England to grant disabled passengers round-the-clock free bus travel from April

Starting on 1 April, England will allow holders of disabled bus passes to travel for free at any time of day, eliminating the current weekday window of 09:30 to 23:00. The measure is projected to help roughly one million people and aligns with the government's effort to curb living costs and encourage workforce participation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham framed the decision as a correction of an unfair restriction, noting his earlier removal of time limits for the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.

Disability charities such as Scope and Transport for All welcomed the move, calling it a removal of everyday barriers and a fix to the postcode-based inconsistencies. A Conservative spokesman asked for clarity on financing, saying the scheme will be covered by the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions with a £60 million budget. Similar free-travel provisions already exist in Scotland, Wales and parts of Northern Ireland.