Imagine trying to navigate a train station when your sight is impaired in any way? How do you find the ticketing machines? How do work out what platform you are needing to go to and how do you get yourself there safely? And, especially if you aren’t with someone to help you navigate it. It is a scary prospect, and we don’t want anyone who is blind or partially sighted to feel the negative impacts of the simple act of trying to get around.
In Scotland, there is currently free travel for those with a Blind Persons Card for buses but not for rail travel. And for rail in Scotland there are different geographical concessions and some people who are blind or visually impaired can get free rail but some not. This means that from an equality perspective we have work to do as it depends on which local authority they live in and has a massive impact on a person’s quality of life and their ability to live as independently as possible.
Indeed, most people who are living with a visual impairment need to rely on public transport because driving is not available to them. This means that both accessibility and cost creates a barrier to those navigating travel by rail who have sight loss.
“Unfortunately for many blind and partially sighted people travelling without a companion is just not an option, and the costs to pay fares is too much. This is a great opportunity to create a rail network in Scotland which is inclusive and meets the needs of everyone in society.”
Living independently
We have heard first-hand how the lack of a national policy is negatively impacting blind and partially sighted people across Scotland and is causing confusion to both passengers and rail staff.
It's very important that those who are blind or visually impaired can travel with a companion which may be a family member, loved one, carer and or support worker. Being able to do this can make a real difference as it allows for much needed support to enable blind or partially sighted people to use rail travel safely and with confidence. Without this, people can face anxiety and it impacts their mental wellbeing.
Those who are partially sighted, or blind deserve to live their life to the fullest and particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for individuals to travel safely is even more important. Being able to navigate a station, platform and entering the train safely with or without a long cane can be confronting for people, especially if they are on their own.
The cost of rail travel
As we are all too aware, the cost of living is biting in every which way. Rail travel isn’t an exception and couple this with the necessary increases in rail ticket costs, it is becoming unaffordable for blind and visually impaired people. And as public transport is the only means of transport, the need for equal concession prices across all methods of public transport in Scotland is ever more important.
Amanda has a visual impairment and is supported by our Sight Scotland Community Service. She relies on public transport for herself and her young daughter. Amanda has told us: “I go everywhere by bus only because of the free companion travel. I would rather take the train as the bus can be so unreliable, especially in the darker nights, which reduces what vision I do have even more. I’d take the train more if I could, but with the cost of living it is too expensive to always pay the fare for my companion and I can’t expect my sister or whoever is with me to pick up the cost. If we could get free companion travel on the trains like what we have on the bus, it would make life so much easier.”
Why we campaign
We want to ensure that all blind and partially sighted people in Scotland can make safe journeys by rail and have equality of access to public transport. And Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, are calling on MSPs to back its Fair Rail Campaign after it was debated in the chamber on 13 December 2022.
The Fair Rail Campaign is calling for a new national policy for free rail travel across Scotland for the blind and partially sighted people and their companions. Freedom of information requests made by the charity revealed that while most local authorities and SPT offer free or discounted rail travel for the companions of blind or partially sighted people, only seven said they offered a discount to companions, and none offered free companion travel.
We fight for equality
We looked at feedback from public information about concessionary schemes and companion discounts is misleading and is causing confusion to both passengers and rail staff. Graham Simpson MSP, Shadow Minister for Transport, comments: “A lack of national policy for free rail travel for companions of blind and partially sighted people is causing anguish for passengers and rail staff. It’s clear to me that having a companion can ultimately make the difference of someone being able to make a journey or not at all. I thank Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans for bringing this important issue to my attention and I will be urging members to back the calls for a national policy to take steps towards a more equitable and accessible rail network across Scotland for everyone who uses it.”
By having a national policy it means that for people with sight loss the concern about consistent process of travelling across Scotland will no longer need to be a concern. This would mean equal opportunity across bus and rail travelling for those with a visual impairment and their companions allowing for safe travel.
Our campaign launch in 2020
We began campaigning for Fair Rail Travel in Scotland back in 2020 and veterans with sight loss who attend the Hawkhead Activity Centre in Paisley. They crafted a ticket machine prop to demonstrate the difficulties in using station ticket machines and being able to read screens and keypads for a person who has sight loss. And we had this machine at our initial petition launch outside The Scottish Parliament.
Joe, another of our veterans with sight loss who is 92 and supported by Sight Scotland Veterans, attended the stall to show his support for the campaign.
Joe told us: “My sight is more like shadows now. I always have to travel with someone in order to travel on the trains. A travel companion to provide support can be really important for someone with sight loss. You’ve got to manage getting from the platform onto the train, and coming off the train, it’s things like stepping back down onto the platform and not knowing where the buttons are for opening the doors. Some stations have different levels of platforms which is very hard to manage alone.
“I very much support Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans’ Fair Rail Vision campaign. At the moment, schemes across Scotland are not consistent.”
We would love if you are passionate about this too tag us when you are on a train and use the hashtag #OurFairRailVision especially if you are will someone who would really benefit from free fair rail across Scotland!
What we are calling for:
Free rail travel for those with a National (Scotland) Concessionary Travel for Blind Persons card and their companion
Accessible rail travel for blind and partially sighted people
A consistent policy across Scotland, wherever you are travelling
We'd love you to get involved!
Head to our dedicated policy page to sign our open letter and help us create safer rail travel for those who are blind or partially sighted in Scotland.