Welsh Conservatives have welcomed the news today (April 9) from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) that free rail travel will be offered to people fleeing domestic abuse during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
The offer – called “Rail to Refuge” – has been made by rail companies working in partnership with Women’s Aid, and comes as campaigners report a rise in requests for help from victims of domestic abuse since Coronavirus lockdown measures came into force.
In a joint statement, Russell George Am and Mark Isherwood AM – respectively the Shadow Ministers for Transport and Communities – said:
“People escaping domestic abuse are often advised to seek refuge services some distance from their perpetrator, but for many, raising the cash – or even being able to have access to money in some circumstances – to pay for a train ticket can be very difficult.
“So, we and our Welsh Conservative colleagues welcome the Rail to Refuge scheme aims to remove this barrier by offering free train tickets for women or men, and their children, to travel to a recognised refuge.”
In the report, it was stated that from today, survivors can access the tickets through the member services of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Welsh Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid and Imkaan, once they have received an offer of a refuge place.
Members of these organisations can book the tickets via a bespoke booking system for the people they are referring to, or receiving in, their refuge accommodation.
For more information about domestic abuse support organisations in Wales, visit www.saferwales.com/domestic-abuse.
