Introduction

Background

In March 2024, the Scottish Government published the Fair Fare’s Review which set out recommendations for initiatives to improve the accessibility, availability and affordability of public transport in Scotland. The Blind Companion Free Rail Travel Pilot came about as a result of one of the commitments within the Fair Fare’s Review which stated:

Within our existing concessionary travel schemes, we will develop the feasibility of a pilot project to extend free travel on rail services for companions accompanying eligible Blind Persons Concessionary Travel cardholders.”

Transport Scotland 2024

There are existing concessionary travel schemes that entitle qualifying blind people to free travel on public transport. The National Concessionary Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People, provides free bus and ferry travel to those who are 60 and over, or who meet certain disability criteria. Some disabled cardholders also qualify for a ‘+1’ entitlement meaning they can be accompanied by a companion who also travels for free.

The commitment within the Fair Fare’s Review resulted in a pilot scheme that extended free companion travel across all ScotRail services for blind impaired cardholders who have the +1 entitlement.

Since 1999, A National Concessionary Travel for Blind People (NCTBP) scheme has been in operation on a voluntary basis by some local authorities through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA). The scheme provides free travel for blind people on rail, bus and ferry services across Scotland as well as Edinburgh Trams and the Glasgow subway. Companions travelling with blind people do not receive free travel on rail across Scotland but do receive some discounts depending on what Local Authority area the blind person is departing from or travelling to.

As concessionary travel cards are not currently fully compatible with ScotRail systems, in most instances blind cardholders are “waved through” the barriers at rail stations or by on-board or station staff. This arrangement was extended to include companions under the pilot, with a limit of one companion per eligible cardholder.

The pilot went live on 01 April 2025 and will run until 31 March 2026. It is open to all people who hold a valid Sight Impaired National Entitlement Card (NEC) with a companion (+1) entitlement. The card includes an eye +1 logo and herein is referred to as NEC eye +1, as this was the term used in the research to ensure the survey questions were understood and accessible for participants. As of 31^st January 2025, there were 8,010 NEC eye +1 cardholders in Scotland. Cross-border rail operators opted into the pilot on a voluntary basis. No rail services operate in the following local authority areas; Orkney Islands, Na h-Eileanan Siar and the Shetland Islands.

The objectives of the pilot are:

• To make rail travel more affordable and therefore accessible for blind and partially sighted passengers.

• To implement a consistent, nation-wide policy for free companion rail travel, synonymous with concessionary bus and ferry travel across Scotland.