Free rail travel for 7.9% of the population?

[whole diary]

[Phil]

I have no idea if this is true, but if so I have mixed feelings about it. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS^» (Office for National Statistics - website)) about 4.2% of men and 7.9% of women suffered domestic abuse in England and Wales during 2018 (the latest figures available). This equates to about 685,000 male victims and 1,300,000 women. Presumably the women's aid charity is paying the rail TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for the cost of this. Isn't there an equivalent men's aid? How widespread is it? Are all of the TOCs aware of this scheme? So many questions... not least "have I even posted this in the right place" 


_{[edited to position text better - RS]}

[grahame]

I have no idea if this is true, but if so I have mixed feelings about it. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS^» (Office for National Statistics - website)) about 4.2% of men and 7.9% of women suffered domestic abuse in England and Wales during 2018 (the latest figures available). This equates to about 685,000 male victims and 1,300,000 women. Presumably the women's aid charity is paying the rail TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for the cost of this. Isn't there an equivalent men's aid? How widespread is it? Are all of the TOCs aware of this scheme? So many questions... not least "have I even posted this in the right place" 

The scheme covers anyone on their flight from domestic violence - women, men, and dependent children with them too.  See http://www.passenger.chat/22981 .   I *think* I saw stats somewhere on how it is going and recall discussing it with operational staff, where the issues of people travelling for this reason are for the most part appreciated.  'Flights' of this sort are sometimes made unplanned, but more often planned or thought about in advance, though the ability to connect with womensaid or anyone else with secrecy may be limited or none-existent.  And - really - the person fleeing needs somewhere to go ...

No personal experience of this scheme ... aware of the issue to watch out for, and I do have experience of facilitating one such flight; obviously, that gives me a view though probably one coloured by the particular circumstances that were involved. 

I do wonder at how the data and stats have changed this year.

[TaplowGreen]

"Ooooooooooooooos gonna pay for it?" shouldn't even be a consideration in these circumstances - if a man, woman or child finds themselves in these circumstances and needs to flee, any decent person or organisation (transport or otherwise) should do everything they can to assist them.

A big "well done" to the rail operators in these circumstances and the charities who work so hard in this most distressing area.

How anyone could have "mixed feelings" on this subject is beyond me.

[Electric train]

"Ooooooooooooooos gonna pay for it?" shouldn't even be a consideration in these circumstances - if a man, woman or child finds themselves in these circumstances and needs to flee, any decent person or organisation (transport or otherwise) should do everything they can to assist them.

A big "well done" to the rail operators in these circumstances and the charities who work so hard in this most distressing area.

How anyone could have "mixed feelings" on this subject is beyond me.

In the scale of revenue its small change compared to the social benefit. 

As a society the question is why has it taken so long to make this provision 

In general railway operators have always shown compassion and support to passengers in distress but it was not a legal obligation this makes it such

[grahame]

"Ooooooooooooooos gonna pay for it?" shouldn't even be a consideration in these circumstances - if a man, woman or child finds themselves in these circumstances and needs to flee, any decent person or organisation (transport or otherwise) should do everything they can to assist them.

A big "well done" to the rail operators in these circumstances and the charities who work so hard in this most distressing area.

How anyone could have "mixed feelings" on this subject is beyond me.

liked by grahame, Western Pathfinder

It has been suggested (by a friend who has NOT been involved in this conversation) that I clarify that my like and support is for the scheme, all those who are helping with it, and the similar sentiments expressed in this post.  It is not related to anyone else's feelings on the subject.

I have had concerns that it's been far better publicised for women needing to flee than men, as per the post that started this thread, which also expressed concern at the gender-specificness in the screen capture.  And I wonder if the thread title is somewhat designed to catch attention, as the free rail travel is only for journeys made in very specific circumstances.