Drumchapel veteran Gus Cross backs Sight Scotland's Fair Rail Vision petition

Gus Cross, who served with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, has sight loss due to an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy and has no vision in his right eye and very little in his left.

The 50-year-old regularly attends Sight Scotland Veterans’ activity hub at the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.

Gus helped to create a rail ticket machine prop in the centre’s woodwork workshop which helps demonstrate the challenges of rail travel for visually impaired people.

Yesterday, MSPs and members of the public had the opportunity to use the machine while wearing glasses simulating different eye conditions at an awareness stall outside of the Scottish Parliament.

This was arranged by Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans as part of the sister charities’ Fair Rail Vision Campaign.

The charities launched a petition calling for the creation of a new national rail travel policy for Scotland following ScotRail’s shift to public ownership.

The policy would enable free rail travel across the country for anyone with a National (Scotland) Concessionary Travel for Blind Persons card and their companion.

Currently, there are different schemes for train travel for visually impaired passengers and their companions in different local authority areas.

The charities say they have heard first-hand from blind and partially sighted people about the confusion they have experienced due to a “lack of consistency” across local authority areas in Scotland.

Gus said: “The lack of consistency in rail travel schemes across Scotland is not helping people who are visually impaired.

“I think there’s a lack of public awareness about the challenges of using trains alone when you have sight loss.

“Due to my sight loss, my ability to get out independently has been affected. I can’t really use the trains on my own.

"The problem is seeing what’s on the timetables, so I’d have to have my wife with me. It gives me more independence to have someone there with me.

“A travel companion is also important as there’s the gap between the train and the platform that people with sight loss can’t always see.

"People with disabilities, including people with sight loss, often need help to make sure they’re getting to the right platform and getting on the right train.

"Getting access can be pretty difficult. If you’re getting a ticket from the machine, many people with sight loss can’t see those screens.

"It’s not always safe.”

Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans.

Craig Spalding, chief executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, added:  “With ScotRail now in public ownership, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans are calling for all local authorities in Scotland to work with the Scottish Government to make local travel networks as accessible and affordable as possible for blind and partially sighted people and their companions.

“So many visually impaired people rely on the rail network to get around, and problems with accessibility create a real barrier to independent travel. 

“Travelling with a companion can make a real difference for visually impaired people, providing support which is vital for many blind and partially sighted people to be able to use rail services safely and with confidence.”

For more information on the Fair Rail Vision petition visit HERE.