Travel assistance and transport

We have created this page to let you know what support may be available to:

Help getting to school, college or training

Not all young people with additional needs or disabilities will need help travelling to training or school, but if you do, this is called Travel Assistance.

The older you get, the more we will want to support you to think about how you can travel on your own. This is to help you plan journeys when you are an adult.

How to apply for Travel Assistance

There are two Travel Assistance policies: one for people under-16 and one for people over-16.

You, or a person who supports you (for example, your parent or carer), should read the appropriate policy before applying:

If you want to apply, depending on your age there are different forms you need to complete.

Please be aware:

So there is not a delay you should apply for Travel Assistance some time ahead of your start at school, college or training

The transport section of the Surrey County Council website has more information, including when you should apply and who is eligible for Travel Assistance.

Travel Choices programme

Travel Choices is a programme, run by Surrey Choices in partnership with Surrey County Council, to support children and young people to gain independence to travel to school, go into town with friends, and go to other places that they would like to visit.

Surrey Choices can work with you, and your family or Carers to create a Personal Travel Plan to support you to travel independently. They can help you find the best way for you to travel and feel safe and confident while doing so. This could include:

  • Walking
  • Getting a bus
  • Getting a train
  • Cycling

You can find out more about the Travel Choices programme on the Surrey Choices website:

Help travelling at other times

The government and local councils (including Surrey County Council) offer local and national schemes, which provide discounts for some forms of public transport for young people and people with disabilities.

Public transport operators have legal responsibilities to make their services more accessible for people with disabilities. The help available varies and you can find out more below:

Help with costs

  • Surrey's Student Fare Card gives students aged 16 to 18 who live in Surrey reduced rate bus or rail travel to school and colleges in Surrey. You must pay for the card and only students in full-time education can get the discount. Young people in full-time apprenticeships cannot get a student fare card.
  • 16 to 17 Saver Card is a national railcard available to all 16 and 17-year-olds. The card lasts for one year or until you turn 18 (whichever comes first). You must pay for the card and prove your age to get one, but the card gives you a 50% discount on most rail fares.
  • Disabled person's railcard gives people with disabilities who meet the eligibility criteria discounts on rail travel for themselves and a person travelling with them. You must pay for the card.
  • The Surrey LINK card is for young people aged 20 and under who live in Surrey. It can be used on any single or return bus journey that starts and/or finishes in Surrey and allows you to get 50% off the adult fare for the journey you are taking. On most routes this is the equivalent of a child fare.
  • The Mencap website has further details of some of the help with travel costs available.

Help planning your journey

Help whilst you travel

If you think you might need help during your journey you might like to try one of the following:

All train and station operators are required to have an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP), which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ATP includes the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services, and how it facilitates that use.