RAILWAY NEWS: COMPANIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE TO RECEIVE FREE TRAVEL ON TRAINS

By Bill Heaney

The Scottish Government is set to launch a 12-month pilot programme providing free travel to companions of blind concessionary card holders on all ScotRail services.

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) asked Transport Secretary what the estimated cost would be of permanently extending free rail travel to companions of blind persons national entitlement card holders, in light of the campaigning by Sight Scotland and Deafblind Scotland.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop and campaigner Graham Simpson.

And she received the good news from Fiona Hyslop that one of the SNP’s aims for a publicly owned ScotRail is to make rail travel more accessible to more people.

She added: “Following representations from Sight Scotland, Deafblind Scotland and MSPs from different parties, I am pleased to announce that, on 1 April, we will launch a 12-month pilot programme providing free travel to companions of blind concessionary card holders on all ScotRail services.

“ScotRail will meet the costs associated with the pilot from its existing budget, and Transport Scotland, working with ScotRail, will monitor and evaluate the impact of the pilot to inform the next steps. At that point, they should be able to identify the costs of providing that service on a permanent basis.”

Rona Mackay said: “It is highly encouraging to witness the expansion to companions and the Government’s dedication to enhancing accessibility in Scotland’s public transportation system.

“Can the minister confirm when she will next meet Transport Scotland and ScotRail to discuss those plans and any next steps?”

Fiona Hyslop replied: “I meet my officials at Transport Scotland and ScotRail regularly, and they will be monitoring the impacts of the initiative and keeping me informed of progress over the next 12 months.

“We all want it to succeed in making travel more affordable and accessible to blind and visually impaired people. I hope that MSPs across the chamber will help promote it locally, too.”

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) told MSPs: “The cabinet secretary knows that I have been campaigning for this for years, so I am delighted that there will be a pilot. Does she agree that we do not want the pilot to end suddenly and for a gap to arise as a result?

“Will there be constant evaluation of the pilot to ensure that, if it is a success, it will just continue?”

Fiona Hyslop replied: “I want to put on record the efforts of Graham Simpson MSP in pursuing this issue for some time now. I am sure that he will share in the success of the pilot and help promote it locally.

“Transport Scotland will monitor and evaluate the pilot over the next 12 months and report conclusions to ministers. Sight Scotland has engaged with blind and visually impaired people through survey and focus groups to support evaluation.

“I should say that this is not just about cost; we will also look at how the free travel is used. That qualitative information will be important, too.”

Meanwhile, Dumbarton’s MSP has called on the Scottish Government to scrap peak rail fares once again and help hard hit commuters.

It comes as new data reveals that rail journeys have slumped since the pandemic – despite the SNP’s pledge to boost public transport use and battle climate change.

Figures show that passenger numbers remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

Between October and December 2019, 26.8 million commuters used the railway network, according to the Office of Road and Rail.

By the same period in 2024, the figures had dropped 18 per cent to 21.8 million – a reduction of almost 5 million journeys.

The Scottish Government caused outrage last August, when it was announced that the peak rail fares pilot would end in September.

The initiative had placed peak rail fares on hold and allowed rail users to travel for off-peak prices, even during busy periods.

But the scheme took place during a period when services were reduced for months as rail unions took industrial action.

The Scottish Government then scrapped the peak fare pilot saying it had failed to sufficiently increase passenger numbers.

MSP Jackie Baillie, who opposed the abolition of the pilot, said: “ScotRail has been back under the control of the Scottish Government since 2022 but despite promises to encourage people on to public transport, the results have been disappointing.

“The Peak Rail Fares Pilot ran when services were greatly reduced but despite promising results, the SNP saw fit to abolish and increase prices at a time when people are struggling financially.

“On the SNP’s watch, fares have increased and services continue to be unreliable, leading people to vote with their feet. We need clear action to get services back on track and cut fares.

“A Scottish Labour government will end peak rail fares for good and deliver a rail service fit to take commuters into the future.”

The Scottish Government’s Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has also waved through a controversial decision to slash the opening hours of platform ticket offices.

Stations including Balloch, Alexandria, Dumbarton and Helensburgh will all be hit with massive reductions in opening times from March 31^st.

It comes despite the bid being scrapped originally in 2022, after the Scottish Government’s then Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth, commissioned a report into ‘Women and Girls’ Safety on Public Transport’.

The report revealed that vulnerable travellers could be put at risk by such a move.

MSP Jackie, also Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader, pictured right, opposed the revived ticket office proposals earlier this year, joining members of the TSSA union (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association) at Balloch station to throw a spotlight on the plans.

She added: “I know how important inexpensive and dependable public transport is in Scotland, not to mention its value to residents in our area.

“A number of residents have been in touch with my office to express their disappointment at soaring rail costs and to advise how badly it has affected household budgets.

“Yet more have expressed their fears over the changes to ticket office opening hours and their resulting reluctance to travel.

“None of these changes are encouraging people in Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven or Helensburgh and Lomond to make greater use of public transport.

“The Scottish Government has a history of empty pledges and failed promises and their commitment to revitalising public transport is no different.”

Rail services on the Balloch line have a history of anti-social behaviour and disorder, particularly during the summer months, which has led to commuters fearing for their safety.