Travel and transport
Cambridgeshire is a wonderful county to explore. We should all be able to get out and meet friends, run errands and enjoy time out.
Whether you are happy to access public transport or you are looking for alternative ways to get out and about the information on this page can help you plan your time.
Getting out and about
There are lots of things you can do to feel happy, confident and safe when getting to places whether you are walking, cycling or using public transport.
Planning your journey
This Journey Planner (cambridgeshire.gov.uk) helps you to think about a journey you need to do, how to find your way, bits you might need to practice or learn and any help you might need. It is about a journey to school but you could use it for any journey.
Road safety at school
Lots of schools and colleges have programmes for children and young people to learn about road safety and cycling. You can find out more here Road safety education for schools - Cambridgeshire County Council or ask your school or college.
Using your phone
The maps on mobile phones can help you find your way around and most have different settings so you can set them up to suit you.
There are lots of apps that you can get on your phone to help with directions. They are all a bit different so it’s worth having a look around to find one that suits you. Some are free but you may have to pay for some.
Community Transport
Community transport provides journeys for people who have difficulty using ordinary public transport.
Most community transport schemes are for people who:
- do not have access to public transport or their own car
- find using public transport difficult (for example, because of a disability or age)
- are socially or rurally isolated from accessing basic public services and facilities (such as healthcare)
You can find out more on the Community Transport pages of the Combined Authority website.
Community Transport by area:
Travelling by train
Accessible Train Travel
National Rail Enquiries provide information about accessible train travel and facilities for the whole country.
Access information for trains in Cambridgeshire
Access information for our local train companies can be found below:
Railcard for people 16-25 years old
People with a 16-25 Railcard save on average £189 per year*, and the Railcard usually pays for itself within 3 journeys.
- 1/3 off rail travel
- Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
- For everyone aged 16-25 and mature students
Top Tip – if you buy a 3 year railcard the day before your 24th birthday you will be able to use it until a day before you are 27!
Disabled Persons Railcard Discounts
If you have a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard which give 1/3 off train travel.
If you do not have a Railcard and you are blind or partially sighted and travelling with a companion, or if you use a wheelchair, you can get a discount on Anytime tickets.
Trainline
Trailine is Europe’s leading train and coach app. They work with 270 rail and coach companies to offer our customers travel to thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe. Their aim is to bring together all rail, coach and other travel services into one simple experience so people can get the best prices and smart, real-time travel info on the go.
Trainline also offers information on accessibility on trains and how to book travel assistance.
Organising Assistance when you travel by train
Train companies can organise staff at stations to help you if you have access needs. This is called passenger assistance.
You need to book passenger assistance before you travel. You can book it when you buy your ticket. Passenger Assistance is an app that you can get to make booking assistance quicker and easier.
Try a train events
Great Northern Trains hold regular events called ‘Try a Train' which provide an ideal opportunity for those who lack confidence travelling by train to visit their stations and to experience a train journey.
The tailored event agenda concentrated on the group’s specific needs and area of interest.
A typical ‘Try a Train’ consists of.
- Introduction to the station layout including car parking and onward travel.
- Various station facilities
- Overview of ticketing options & sources of information
- Meet the local station manager and station teams.
- A chance to sample a train journey to a relevant destination of interest.
Travelling by Bus
Free Bus Passes
If you have a disability or additional needs you may be able to get a free bus pass.
You need to apply for a bus pass and renew it before it runs out.
If you need help with your application you can ask someone you trust to help you, ask at your local library or phone 0345 045 5225.
The free bus pass can be used on any local bus in England, including in London. It can be used on park and ride busses and the guided busway.
You can use it after 9.30am in the morning on Mondays to Friday and all day at the weekends and bank holidays.
Journey assistance cards and bus passes
Stagecoach produce Journey Assistance Cards for you to use if you need a bit more help when using the bus. They make it easier for you to let their bus drivers know what extra help you need. You can use your cards any time of the day, seven days a week, on any of their bus services.
You can apply for Journey Assistance Cards if you have limited vision or hearing, difficulty in communication, special educational needs or if English is not your first language. Or maybe you just need extra time or help to find a seat.
Types of Journey Assistance Cards
Their Journey Assistance Cards have been developed with their trade body, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
The cards available are:
- Please be patient, I am deaf
- Please be patient, I am visually impaired
- Please be patient, I have difficulty speaking
- Please be patient, I am hard of hearing
- Please speak slowly and face me to help me hear better
- Please scan my pass for me
- Please count my change for me
Travelling by Car
Learning to Drive
If you are looking to start learning to drive, the disability driving instructors website has an online register of specialist driving instructors for people with physical disabilities, special educational needs and those with hearing difficulties. The website also has advice on how to start to learn to drive, how to return to driving after an accident or illness and how to keep driving safely.who need advice about driving. You can find out more on www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com
Getting a Car
Cars are expensive to buy and run.
If you receive a mobility allowance with at least a year left you can use it to get a car thorough the The Motability Scheme
If you get the higher rate mobility part of Personal Independence Payment or the higher rate mobility part of Disability Living Allowance visit the website to find out more. You can get a Motability car even if you don’t drive yourself.
Adapting your car
There are various changes that can be made to your car to help make your driving or travelling experience as comfortable as possible, depending on your needs. Motability can advise on these.
Blue Badge Parking Scheme
A Blue Badge is a disabled parking permit. It helps people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination. To qualify for a Blue Badge, you must have an enduring and substantial disability. You will need to provide evidence of this.
Find out more and apply on the Blue Badge section of the website.
A taxicard scheme exists in parts of South Cambridgeshire.
To find out more, download the taxicard information guide; if you need further information please email community.transport@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk or ring 01223 790149.
Access Guides
Knowing if a place is wheelchair accessible or will suit any access needs you have is really important.
Accessable is a website or app that has very detailed access guides, including photos, of all sorts of places in Cambridgeshire. Its free.
The Speak Out Council have made a film about accessibility in St Neots and are planning to make more.
Finding a toilet when you are out and about
Knowing where to find a toilet that suits you when you are out can make all the difference. There are several apps and websites that you can use to find out. You can plan ahead by checking a place before you go or you can use them when you are out to find toilets near when you are.
The Great British Public Toilet Map is an app that you can use to find all toilets near you. You can set it to show different types of toilets such as accessible ones, gender neutral toilets or if you need a radar key.
Accesaloo helps you find accessible toilets and has details of what they are like and photos.
Changing places have the facilities of a normal accessible toilet but also have extra space, an adult changing bench and a hoist (but no sling so you need to have your own with you). The Changing Places toilet map helps you find changing places toilet in the UK. New ones are being added so it is worth checking every now and again for any new ones.
Some accessible toilets need a special key to open the door. This means that the toilets are only available for people who really need them. This is called a Radar Key and you can buy one for £6.
Disability assistance at airports
Stansted Airport
How to request special assistance if you're travelling from or into London Stansted Airport
Departing from London Stansted Airport
Information about your departure from the airport.
If you need extra assistance while you're at the airport, we have a dedicated team to help you.
Facilities and services available for those requiring assistance when travelling through the airport.
Enjoying a smooth journey through the airport when you arrive back at London Stansted Airport.
Supporting passengers who may have hidden or invisible disabilities.
We welcome your feedback about your experience of special assistance at the airport.
Options for travelling to the airport by public transport if you require assistance.
The Sunflower scheme - Support for passengers with invisible disabilities
London Stansted is pleased to be one of a number of UK Airports using the Sunflower scheme. By wearing our Airport Awareness Sunflower lanyard or floret, it will discreetly indicate to our staff that you have a hidden disability and would like additional support. Our staff have been specially trained to recognise these identifiers and act accordingly by providing you with extra help you may need during your journey through the terminal. To pick up a lanyard or floret at London Stansted Airport, please go to either our Information Desk located in the International Arrivals or the assistance desk in zone A. Alternatively, you can use your Sunflower lanyard obtained from one of the UK airports in the scheme.
London Luton Airport
Advice for customers with physical disabilities
London Luton Airport is fully committed to ensuring that it's reduced mobility customers have the best possible experience when travelling.
We are working in partnership with The Disability Resource Centre Dunstable, The National Autism Society (Hertfordshire Branch), the RNIB, the Phoenix Group, Luton Dementia Action Alliance and independent disability advocates & travellers to help us do this.
Follow this link to find out all the information you need to know
Advice for customers with non-physical disabilities
In collaboration with the National Autistic Society, we’ve put together some advice to help you and your companions get around the airport.