England to extend free disabled bus travel to 24 hours a day

disabled bus passes free bus travel cost of living concessionary travel transport policy

The UK government has announced that eligible disabled people in England will be able to use their concessionary bus passes for free travel 24 hours a day, starting April 1, 2027. Currently, weekday travel is restricted to the hours between 09:30 and 23:00, though travel is unrestricted on weekends and bank holidays.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated the move aims to ease cost-of-living pressures and improve access to employment, education, and healthcare. The policy is expected to benefit approximately one million people. The initiative will be funded by a £60 million allocation, consisting of £40 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20 million from the Department for Transport.

Disability charities, including Scope and Transport for All, welcomed the decision, noting it would remove barriers to daily life and end the 'postcode lottery' where different local authorities offered varying levels of access. However, Conservative Party spokespeople questioned how the government would fund its expanding list of policies, suggesting the move relies on the reallocation of existing departmental budgets.

Entities

Andy Burnham · Department for Transport · Department for Work and Pensions · England · Pat McFadden · Scope

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The funding will be drawn from existing departmental budgets rather than new funding. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that time restrictions on disabled bus passes will be lifted. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] Current weekday restrictions limit free travel to between 9:30am and 11pm. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] The policy will cost £60 million. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] The Department for Transport will contribute £20 million to the initiative. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] Disabled bus pass holders in England will receive 24/7 free travel starting April 1. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] The Department for Work and Pensions will contribute £40 million to the initiative. inews.co.uk · metro.co.uk

Sources

Good news for disabled people as England extends free bus travel to all hours [www.easterneye.biz]

25 days ago

Natspec responds to 24/7 free bus travel for disabled people [natspec.org.uk]

25 days ago

Disabled Bus Pass Rules Are Changing: What You Need to Know [www.thepennypincher.co.uk]

25 days ago

Free bus travel for disabled people in England to be extended to 24 hours a day [www.bbc.co.uk]

25 days ago

Disabled passes to be valid all day from April 2027 - Bus & Coach Buyer [www.busandcoachbuyer.com]

25 days ago

Free bus travel 24/7 for disabled people to ease cost of living | Olay Gazete Turkish Newspaper in London [olaygazete.co.uk]

25 days ago

Shropshire Council welcomes extension of free bus travel for disabled people - Shropshire Council Newsroom [newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk]

24 days ago

Why the Scrapping of England's Time Limits on Concessionary Bus Travel Matters [policyconnect.org.uk]

24 days ago

DSA welcomes extension of free bus travel for disabled people in England - Downs Syndrome Association [www.downs-syndrome.org.uk]

24 days ago

Prime Minister announces free 24 hour travel for disabled bus pass holders for Londoners from next year [ca.news.yahoo.com]

25 days ago

Burnham scraps restrictions on disabled people’s bus passes in England [www.theguardian.com]

25 days ago

Andy Burnham's Bus Overhaul Is Bigger Than £2 Fares as Disabled Pass Rule Is Scrapped [www.ibtimes.co.uk]

24 days ago

Disabled people to get free bus travel around the clock, Andy Burnham announces [metro.co.uk]

25 days ago

Disabled people will be able to travel free on buses all day everyday [inews.co.uk]

25 days ago

What are the free bus passes I can get after Andy Burham’s latest announcement? [www.independent.co.uk]

25 days ago