A local Blind Persons Companion Travel Scheme is to be implemented in the Highlands by The Highland Council in conjunction with First Scotrail from from 23 May 2010.
Members of The Highland Council's Transport, Environmental and Community Service Committee this week approved the scheme which will allow one companion to travel with a blind travel card holder on each journey for a flat fare of 50p. The Council has estimated that around 300 journeys undertaken by companions of blind travel card holders will cost the Council around £3,500 per year.
The scheme will be open to blind people who are holders Highland national entitlement cards and will cover all internal rail journeys within the Highlands and rail journeys to and from Highland to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The Highland Council has agreed to investigate establishing a Scottish-wide scheme and the Convenor, Councillor Sandy Park wrote to COSLA and the Scottish Government (in August 2009) asking for a meeting to discuss this opportunity.
Members noted that the Convener will write again to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change requesting a meeting to consider making the Blind Persons Companion Travel Scheme a Scotland-wide scheme, and for consideration to be given to extending the companion travel scheme across a wider range of disabilities.
Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Council's TEC Services Committee said: "The Blind Persons Companion Travel Scheme will be of great benefit to many people in the Highlands making their journeys much more affordable. Persuading other organisations to widen the benefits of the scheme throughout Scotland and into other types of public transport is our next priority."