Key findings

The evaluation for the Blind Companion Free Rail Travel Pilot primarily consisted of two surveys; a baseline survey prior to the launch of the pilot (conducted in February 2025) and a follow-up survey once the pilot was live (conducted in September 2025). Focus groups with members of the sight impaired community were also undertaken for the baseline and follow-up studies. The research was conducted with those who are holders of a Sighted Impaired National Entitlement Card (NEC) with a companion (+1) entitlement to understand use and impact of the pilot scheme. The two surveys achieved markedly different sample sizes due to the varying sampling approaches taken (more information is provided in the methodology section). The baseline survey received a total of 214 responses from eligible cardholders, whereas 1,482 cardholders responded to the follow-up survey. The surveys are based on non-representative samples. The findings provide an insight into the views of respondents but cannot be generalised to the wider population.

The key findings are presented below. Please note that percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question and no statistical testing has been carried out.

  • For both surveys, most respondents indicated that they travelled by rail once a month or more often. This was the case for 72% (n=154) of respondents for the baseline survey and 79% (n=861) of respondents who had travelled by rail since 1 April 2025 for the follow-up. A higher proportion of male survey respondents (78%, n=598) had travelled by rail since 1 April 2025 than female survey respondents (70%, n=480).
  • In the baseline survey, almost three quarters of respondents indicated that they typically travelled on rail services with a companion (74%, n=140).
  • Most respondents to the follow-up survey were aware of the free companion rail travel scheme (71%, n=1,053). This was consistent across people of different ages, sex and local authorities, with the exception of Shetland Islands and Dundee City areas.
  • The vast majority of respondents who had travelled by rail since the launch of the pilot on 1 April 2025 had used the scheme (84%, n=791). This is largely in line with the baseline findings where the majority of respondents (74%, n=140), indicated they were likely to use the scheme. With regard to respondent sex, a slightly higher proportion of men (86%, n=447) than women (82%, n=331) had used the scheme.
  • Almost all respondents (99%, n=778) who had used the scheme had done so on ScotRail services. This was followed by LNER; 16% (n=128) and Avanti West Coast; 8% (n=65).
  • The vast majority of respondents (94%, n=740) who had used the scheme felt it was easy to access (‘very’ or ‘fairly easy’).
  • When looking at the impacts of the scheme, nearly all respondents to the follow-up survey (95% and above) felt the scheme had had positive impacts across the areas asked about: independence, mobility, confidence while travelling, travel costs and safety and accessibility.
  • Almost nine in ten respondents (89%, n=705) who had used the scheme said that their use of rail services had changed as a result. When looking at how use of rail services had changed, 84% (n=591) said they now made more trips by rail and 69% (n=485) said they travelled to new/different destinations. There was some evidence of modal shift, with 54% of respondents (n=380) making trips by rail they would have previously taken by bus, and 43% (n=298) making trips they would have previously taken by car.
  • Being unaware of the scheme was the most commonly cited reason by respondents who had travelled by rail since 1 April but who had not used the scheme (48%, n=44). This was followed by ‘I do not travel with a companion’, selected by 21% (n=19) of respondents.
  • The majority of follow-up survey respondents who had travelled by rail since 1 April said they are either ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to continue travelling by rail once the pilot scheme ends (65%, n=511).
  • Most respondents to the baseline survey who travelled by rail ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’ booked Passenger Assistance (64%, n=124). For the follow-up survey, a third of respondents (33%, n=356) had who travelled by rail since 1 April, had ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’ booked Passenger Assistance. Whilst almost half (49%, n=531) had not booked Passenger Service during this time.
  • Almost a fifth (18%, n=193) of follow-up respondents who had travelled by rail since 1 April 2025 did not know they could book Passenger Assistance.
  • For the follow-up survey, the majority (60% n=136) of respondents who had said they had ‘sometimes’ used Passenger Assistance since 1 April, indicated they were less likely to book Passenger Assistance now they could travel with a companion for free.
  • For both surveys, the majority of respondents rated the accessibility of rail services as being ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. For the follow-up survey this was the opinion of 66% (n= 969) of respondents.