People with Disabilities
Document Actions
If you are a person with a disability, you are entitled to the following travel concessions:
- If you have a Vision Impaired Person's Pass, you are entitled to free travel on many NSW public transport services. Approved attendants travel free also.
- If you have a Companion Card, your attendant is entitled to free travel on many NSW public transport services.
- If you have an Assistance Animal Permit your assistance animal can travel with you free of charge.
Carer Payment recipients who hold a Pensioner Concession Card are entitled to concession travel on many NSW public transport services. Please check with Centrelink for more information on the Carer Payment.
Vision Impaired Person's (VIP) Pass
If you are a blind or severely
vision impaired person, as assessed under the Snellen Scale by an
ophthalmologist (or an optometrist in rural and regional areas), and
are a resident of NSW or ACT, you are entitled to free travel in NSW on
CityRail services, local buses (excluding school services) and Sydney
Ferries. You are also entitled to free access to Airport Line stations,
some free NSW country train travel and concession rates on CountryLink
and Great Southern Rail services.
Free travel is not available on Manly Fast Ferry, Sydney Fast Ferries, special event services (except Moore Park Special Event Buses), tourism, premium or chartered bus or ferry services.
Privately owned and operated services, including the light rail, monorail and regional services, may offer concessions at their own discretion. Check with the operator before travelling.
Eligibility
To obtain free travel you will need a Vision Impaired Persons (VIP) Pass, which you must carry with you at all times when travelling and show it to transport staff on request.
An attendant entitlement is only available when indicated when the VIP pass is marked 'Plus Attendant', or when the VIP pass holder separately holds a Companion Card.
The pass is issued free of charge and is valid for 3 years. Your application form must be completed by an ophthalmologist (or an optometrist in rural and regional areas).
You can download a Vision Impaired Persons Pass application form (pdf 64KB) or obtain one from the Transport Passes and Concessions Office.
Pass holders may also be entitled to subsidised taxi travel under the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.
Attendants who are holders of a Companion Card, or who are attending someone with pass marked 'Plus Attendant', are also entitled to free travel.
Assistance animals travel free with pass holders with or without an Assistance Animal Permit.
NSW country train travel
Vision Impaired Person's Pass holders who are NSW residents are also entitled to 1 free return or 2 free single NSW CountryLink journeys, or the NSW portion of an interstate train journey, each calendar year. They are also entitled to a half-fare concession on other CountryLink train trips.
NSW pass holders travelling interstate can also use their card to obtain entitlements available to card holders in the State or Territory they are visiting. These entitlements vary so check with the operator in the relevant State or Territory before travelling.
Attendants
The following concession cards have attendant entitlements when the pass is marked 'Plus Attendant'. Your attendant (a sighted person 4 years and above) travels free with you:
In addition to the above cards, you can also use the Companion Card for free attendant travel.
Companion Card holders
If you have a Companion Card issued by Ageing,
Disability and Home Care under the Department of Human Services, your
attendant is entitled to travel free of charge - when accompanying you
- in NSW on CityRail services, local buses (excluding school services),
Sydney Ferries and CountryLink services. Your
attendant is also entitled to free access to Airport Line stations.
Free travel is not available on the Manly Fast Ferry, Sydney Fast Ferries, light rail or monorail or on, premium, charter, tourism or special event services (except Moore Park Special Event Buses). Privately owned and operated services may offer concessions at their own discretion. Check with the operator before travelling.
While your attendant uses a Companion Card to travel for free, you must still hold a valid ticket (and concession card if applicable) or free travel pass.
Conditions of use
- To obtain free travel for your attendant you must carry your
Companion Card while in transit and show it to transport staff on
request.
You cannot use an attendant entitlement card or other card to gain free travel for an additional person other than your attendant. - The attendant is responsible for looking after you when travelling and should follow directions given by transport staff to do with your safety or that of other customers.
- Seat booking is required on some long distance rail and rail/coach services. When booking you should provide details of your concession card (if you have one) and the number of your Companion Card, along with any requirements you may have, such as needing a wheelchair space.
Your NSW Companion Card can be used in other States and Territories that have a Companion Card scheme, such as Victoria and South Australia.
For more information about the Companion Card, visit the NSW Companion Card website, or call the NSW Companion Card information line on 1800 893 044.
Assistance Animal Permit
Animals are generally not
permitted on public transport unless you are carrying an Assistance
Animal Permit or documentation demonstrating that the animal is a
certified guide dog, hearing dog, police dog or assistance
animal/police dog in training.
If you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) or the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), and rely on the assistance of a trained assistance animal you may travel with your animal on public transport.
Excluding guide dogs and hearing dogs with accreditation, to travel with your assistance animal you need to obtain an Assistance Animal Permit. The Assistance Animal Permit is valid in NSW on all trains, buses, ferries and taxis. For other services, contact the operator before you travel to find out if it recognises the permit.
To obtain an Assistance Animal Permit, you need to provide medical evidence you have a disability and the assistance animal alleviates the effects of the disability and also documentation that your assistance animal has received appropriate training from an accredited training organisation.
You can download an Assistance Animal Permit application form (pdf 32KB) or obtain one from the Transport Passes and Concessions Office.
Passes & Concessions
By mail:
Locked Bag 5085 Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone:
1300 548 828
In person:
From the Rail Information Centre
Grand Concourse, Central Station
8:30am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday
Email:
passes&concessions@transport.nsw.gov.au
