28 October 2026
by Nicoletta Primo
Nicoletta Primo tells the inspiring story of a successful campaign
Why should blind and severely visually impaired people have to pay extra to travel safely? This was the question that started our campaign for free companion rail travel.
For many people, stepping onto a train is something they do without a second thought. But for someone with severe visual impairment, travelling independently can be difficult, stressful and, at times, unsafe without support. Navigating ticket barriers, finding platforms, boarding trains safely and making connections often requires the assistance of a companion.
People with visual impairment across Scotland repeatedly told us that while they could travel for free using their National Entitlement Card, the companion they relied on for support still had to pay. That extra cost created a financial barrier, making rail travel more difficult and, in some cases, unaffordable.
This contrasted sharply with Scotland's bus network, where companions can travel free of charge. Different concession and companion schemes across the country also created confusion for both passengers and rail staff. Quite simply, the system was unfair.
The award-winning Fair Rail campaign was born out of those experiences. Veterans supported by Sight Scotland Veterans first raised the issue, highlighting how the cost of companion travel was preventing people from making journeys they wanted and needed to make. What began as a conversation quickly became a national campaign calling for change.
Over the following four years, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans worked alongside visually impaired people across Scotland, gathering evidence, sharing personal stories and building support.
They met with MSPs, secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament, cross party-political support, submitted petitions, gave evidence to the Committee on Public Petitions and encouraged visually impaired people to share their experiences with decision-makers.
That hard work has now delivered a genuinely life-changing result. From 1 April 2026, free companion rail travel became a permanent policy across Scotland for anyone holding an Eye +1 National Entitlement Card. Around 8,000 severely visually impaired card holders are expected to benefit from the scheme.
The impact of this change cannot be measured simply in pounds and pence. It means being able to travel to work, access education, attend healthcare appointments, visit family, take part in community activities or simply enjoy a day out without worrying about the cost of a companion ticket.
Research from a year-long pilot scheme showed overwhelmingly positive results. More than 95 per cent of users reported benefits including improved independence, confidence, mobility and safety. Those statistics are powerful, but the real story lies in what people have told us. One campaigner described the impact on their mental health as "extraordinary".
Others spoke about the freedom to make spontaneous journeys, the confidence to travel further afield and the relief of no longer feeling like a burden.
That is what accessibility looks like in practice. Not just removing barriers, but creating the freedom, confidence and independence for people with severe visual impairment to participate fully in everyday life.
The Fair Rail campaign also matters because it demonstrates the importance of listening to lived experience. This change did not happen because an organisation thought it was a good idea. It happened because blind and visually impaired people identified a problem, spoke up about it and refused to accept that things could not be different.
Their voices changed Scottish Government policy.
Fair Rail demonstrates what can be achieved when barriers are challenged and decision-makers listen. While the campaign has received award recognition, its real success is measured in the journeys now being made every day by blind and severely visually impaired people across Scotland, journeys that might never have happened before.
That is why Fair Rail matters. It is about far more than free train tickets. It is about equality, inclusion and ensuring that people with severe visual impairment can participate fully in society.
And that is a victory worth celebrating.
Nicoletta Primo leads lived experience policy and engagement at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans
How Fair Rail changed travel for visually impaired people in Scotland - TFN
The above information is from a Third Force News (TFN) Newsletter Tue 03/11/2026