Bedfordshire rail

County Overview

Bedfordshire is a gateway to London and as such, a regular rail service is provided county wide. Not all stations are fully accessible or have accessible facilities. If a traveller requires accessible facilities, it is advisable to plan a route carefully and in advance. 

Key tips

You can find out about accessibility at Bedfordshire stations, and your destination station, on the National Rail information website.

Just type the name of your station (or 3 letter code if you know it) and you can find out detailed information for that station under the various headings.

Regional Operators

Great Northern Rail

Great Northern Rail website
0800 058 2844

Thameslink

Thameslink website
0800 058 2844

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia website
0800 028 2878

Help with cost

Holders of Concessionary Bus Permits issued by any Local Authority in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire or by Luton Borough Council, may obtain a 50% discount on rail fares for journeys on Thameslink and Great Northern train services after 10:00am, Monday to Fridays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. 

These discounted tickets are available at Ticket Offices. Up to 4 children can travel with the ticket holder for £2 each.

Senior Railcard

A Senior Railcard is available to people over 60 and costs £30 for a year or £70 for three years. It gives a discount of 1/3 off rail journeys.

The Disabled Person’s Railcard

The Disabled Person’s Railcard costs £20 for a year and £54 for three years. It will entitle you to a saving of 1/3 off rail journeys.

You are eligible for the Disabled Person’s Railcard if you:

• receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at either:

the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component

• have a visual impairment
• have a hearing impairment
• have epilepsy
• receive Attendance Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance
• receive War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
• buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme

Special assistance

If you are planning on travelling on National Rail services, you can request an assistance booking in advance – now up to 2 hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. 

Passenger Assist is a national system used by all train companies, which allows them to make the necessary arrangements for your journey.

How it works

If you have a disability, non-visible disability, or are elderly, you can pre-book journey assistance to make sure you get all the help you need for your journey, including changes, and connections that involve other train companies.

You can also “turn up and go” without booking assistance in advance. If you require assistance at short notice, make yourself known to a member of staff or use a Help Point when you arrive at the station.

You can request assistance either via the train company you are travelling with or nationally through Network Rail.

Telephone: 0800 030 9224 (Freephone, including from mobiles).
Lines are open 24 hours a day (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Travelling with Mobility Equipment

All train operators in Bedfordshire can carry manual or powered wheelchairs up to a maximum size of 700mm wide by 1200mm long and not exceeding a weight of 300kg including the passenger.

As there are a limited number of spaces available to wheelchair users on each train, it is important that you book your space in advance.

The rules for mobility scooters are different for each operator, so always check in advance and if you are making a connection to an onward train service with another operator, remember to check if you will need a permit for mobility equipment for the connecting train.

Great Northern Rail

Great Northern Rail website
0800 058 2844

Thameslink

Thameslink website
0800 058 2844

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia website
0800 028 2878

Routes and timetable links

For official departure information and ticket prices, visit the National Rail website or call 03457 48 49 50 (lines open 24 hours, except Christmas Day).