The funding of the Athlete Oyster photocard is particularly interesting when compared to other schemes. TfL has stated this scheme is funded via fares and operating income, yet they admit to holding no analysis on the annual cost. This lack of financial transparency is particularly unusual when compared to the Freedom Pass for older and disabled residents. Unlike the discretionary Athlete scheme, the Freedom Pass is a statutory requirement funded collectively by the London Boroughs and the City of London. Each year, these local authorities must negotiate and pay a significant settlement to TfL and other transport operators to cover the cost of their residents' travel. It raises a fair question: why is a discretionary scheme for elite athletes absorbed into TfL's general income (as foregone revenue) while essential concessions for the public remain a heavy, mandatory expenditure on local council budgets?
Eligibility Expansion vs. Practical Barriers
Since 1 March 2026, the UK government expanded the eligibility criteria for obtaining a Disabled Persons Railcard. It now includes:
• Holders of a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland, or Wales.
• Holders of a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass.
• Blue Badge holders and several other categories.
However, as I have pointed out previously, increased eligibility doesn’t fix fundamental system flaws. For example, a non-London resident who is a wheelchair user and holds a Disabled Persons Railcard might still be forced to use a paper One Day Travelcard. This is because waiting for boarding ramps or being let through manual side gates by staff often means failing to "touch out" correctly. These delays and technical hurdles can cause the system to charge maximum fares on Pay As You Go Oyster—even with a Railcard discount. This highlights exactly why retaining paper tickets is so vital for accessibility.
The Boundary Problem: Epping Forest and Beyond
Administrative divisions often create unfair gaps. As I pointed out previously, disabled and older residents in the Epping Forest district living along the Central Line are not entitled to free travel concessions on TfL services, including the 60+ London Oyster photocard, despite being served directly by the network.
This unfairness extends to residents in towns like Reading, Slough, Amersham, and Watford. While these areas have direct TfL links into the capital, their residents do not enjoy free travel on the TfL network, whereas a London resident with a Freedom Pass can travel freely on those same routes. This creates a two-tier system where accessibility is determined by an arbitrary line on a map.
Back in 2009, Epping Forest District Council proposed to join the Freedom Pass scheme, but then the council chiefs decided against it as it was not feasible.https://t.co/v5yVEfodlwhttps://t.co/WHaeZempbQhttps://t.co/asPqjobNUqhttps://t.co/ahYlWEKehD https://t.co/z0kx2I5S9z pic.twitter.com/gb7Vrq0e9s
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) March 16, 2024
Regional Comparisons: The Postcode Lottery
My research into other areas in England shows a inconsistent landscape regarding tram systems and neighbouring council areas:
Travel South Yorkshire
English National Concessionary Travel passes issued by other local authorities can be used on buses and trams in South Yorkshire. Unfortunately Scottish- and Welsh-issued passes are not valid.
Derbyshire Council
[Derbyshire] Gold Cards are valid for free travel, off-peak on local buses anywhere in England. You can also get free travel on the Sheffield Supertram but not on the Nottingham Tram.
Blackpool Transport
Holders of concessionary passes issued by [Blackpool council and] Wyre council can travel for FREE on our buses and our trams
Nottingham Express Transit
If you hold a concessionary pass for older or disabled people, issued by Nottingham City Council or Nottinghamshire County Council, you can travel for free on our trams during certain times
Under Section 93 of the Transport Act 1985, these additional concessions are "discretionary" and must be funded from local resources like council tax. This is why your ability to travel for free on a tram depends entirely on your local authority’s financial priorities.
Why does this happen?
According to UK Government guidance on the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), the mandatory concession only applies to eligible bus services. Under Section 93 of the Transport Act 1985, local authorities have discretionary powers to offer additional concessions, such as:
• Free or reduced-rate travel on other modes of transport (trams/trains).
• Free travel for a companion of a disabled person.
Because these are discretionary, they must be funded from local resources like council tax. This is why your ability to travel for free on a tram depends entirely on your local authority’s financial priorities.
Current progress
Although I do not get involved with politics or side with any political party, some readers may be unaware that the MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, has presented a Private Member's Bill in the House of Commons titled the Transport for London (Extension of Concessions) Bill.
A Bill to require Transport for London to enable any local authority in England which is served by a Transport for London route, or by a route to which a TfL concessionary scheme applies, to opt into concessionary fare schemes, including the Freedom Pass; and for connected purposes.
Beyond England: The Free Travel Scheme in the Republic of Ireland
For a better model, we can look to the Republic of Ireland. Their comprehensive Free Travel Scheme is provided for disabled and older residents. While Northern Ireland operates under a separate system, the Irish scheme serves as a notable example of integrated accessibility:
The Free Travel Scheme allows you to travel, free of charge, on all public transport owned by the State. This includes bus, rail, Local Link and the Luas, with some exceptions.
Free travel is also available on some services operated by private bus and ferry transport operators.
A Free Travel Public Services Card may be used to travel free of charge on cross-border journeys between Ireland and Northern Ireland and vice versa. However, you cannot use your Free Travel Public Services Card for free travel within Northern Ireland.
Conclusion: The Case for a Unified Approach
The current state of free travel concessions in the UK is a patchwork of statutory requirements and discretionary generosity, leaving many vulnerable passengers at the mercy of their postcode. While the expansion of the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility is a welcome step towards better national integration, it does little to solve the operational hurdles—like the risk of maximum fares for wheelchair users—that make paper tickets an essential safeguard for accessibility.
The disparity between the seamlessly funded, discretionary Athlete Oyster photocard and the heavily burdened, borough-funded Freedom Pass highlights a significant prioritisation gap within Transport for London’s financial framework. It remains difficult to justify why elite athletes receive a streamlined benefit while the funding for essential concessions for the elderly and disabled remains a point of constant negotiation and financial strain for local councils.
The "London Boundary" issue further cements this inequality. Residents in Epping Forest, Slough, and Watford find themselves in a transport limbo: served by the TfL network but excluded from its benefits. This "two-tier" system stands in stark contrast to the Republic of Ireland’s model, where a national Free Travel Scheme ensures that accessibility is not restricted by administrative lines on a map.
Legislation like the Transport for London (Extension of Concessions) Bill suggests there is an appetite for reform, but until the UK moves away from the fragmented powers of the Transport Act 1985, the postcode lottery will persist. True transport equity requires more than just "discretionary" schemes; it requires a unified, national vision that treats mobility as a fundamental right rather than a local luxury.
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.
