Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans welcome the Scottish Government announcement today that free rail travel for companions of visually impaired people has been made a permanent policy across all ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services.
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans have been campaigning for this ‘life-changing’ decision for over three years through its Fair Rail campaign. The call for a new national policy arose when veterans at Sight Scotland Veterans raised an equality issue: visually impaired people had to pay for a companion on every rail journey, making travel unaffordable, while travelling without support was unsafe. They also highlighted the confusing range of concession and companion schemes across Scotland.
This news means, that from 1 April 2026, anyone with an Eye Plus One National Entitlement Card (NEC) can now travel with a companion throughout Scotland at no extra cost. The announcement follows a year-long pilot, during which feedback from over 1500 visually impaired NEC holders was overwhelmingly positive. Among those who knew about the scheme and had travelled by rail:
- 84 percent used it, showing how popular it became once people were aware of it.
- Over 95 percent of users reported benefits across every area measured, including independence, mobility, confidence when travelling, travel costs, and feeling safer and more supported.
- Nearly nine in ten said the scheme had changed how they use rail, with 84 percent taking more trips and 69 percent visiting new places they had not travelled to before.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased to confirm that from 1 April 2026, free companion rail travel for visually impaired people will become a permanent offering. This change will support around 8,000 visually impaired National Entitlement Cardholders who rely on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services.
“Over the past year, the pilot has clearly shown the profound impact that affordable, accessible rail travel can have for blind and partially sighted people. We’ve seen people travelling more often, gaining confidence, and needing less staff assistance. Feedback from Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans, and – most importantly – passengers themselves has been overwhelmingly positive.
“By making this scheme permanent, we’re opening up greater access to work, education, communities, and everyday life in ways many of us take for granted. This decision strengthens independence, reduces isolation, and improves quality of life, and it reflects our wider commitment to ensuring Scotland’s railway is accessible, affordable, and welcoming for everyone who depends on it.”
Anne Dignan, from Edinburgh, who is deafblind and has macular degeneration, comments: “This news is genuinely life changing. Knowing that free companion rail travel is here to stay gives me confidence and freedom I didn’t have before. I can plan trips without worrying about the cost of a companion ticket, travel more often, and explore new places that I couldn’t before without the extra financial burden. Thanks to Sight Scotland, Sight Scotland Veterans and the tireless work of campaigners, free companion travel means independence, inclusion and the opportunity for people like me with sight loss to access rail travel right across Scotland.”
Agnes Houston, 76, a former army nurse from Coatbridge, who lives with both dementia and visual impairment, says: “I am overwhelmed by this news. It means so much to me. Over the past year it has genuinely changed my life, and I was becoming quite worried about the pilot ending. Because of my visual impairment and dementia, I can no longer travel alone, especially over long distances, and I simply could not afford to pay for a companion. The difference the free companion rail travel has made to my mental health is extraordinary.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, comments: “We are delighted the Scottish Government has made free companion rail travel a permanent policy - a major step towards making train travel truly affordable and accessible for everyone. After more than three years of campaigning, this is a huge victory for our campaigners, service users, and our External Affairs and Campaigns team, whose hard work has made this possible.”
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said: “We’re delighted the Scottish Government’s free companion rail travel scheme for visually impaired people is being made permanent and proud to be able to play our part in improving the customer experience for people who are blind or have a visual impairment.
“This is a major step towards empowering people to be able to travel with confidence and independence, making train journeys safer and more welcoming for everyone. ScotRail is committed to ensuring the railway works for all of our customers, and the scheme is part of our wider efforts to improve accessibility across our network.”
For more information visit sightscotland.org.uk.
