Travel to Refuge is an umbrella scheme in which travel companies cover the cost of train or coach tickets for women, men and children escaping domestic abuse travelling to refuge accommodation. It’s made up of two schemes:

Rail to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and the Rail Delivery Group, set up in April 2020, providing free rail travel for survivors of abuse.
Road to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and National Express, set up in 2023, providing free coach travel for survivors of abuse.

How does the scheme work?

A survivor reaches out for support from a domestic abuse service which is a member of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Imkaan, Scottish Women’s Aid, Welsh Women’s Aid or Respect Men’s Advice Line. If appropriate, the survivor will be referred to a refuge and will be informed once a refuge vacancy has been confirmed. The refuge books a free train or coach ticket for the survivor. The refuge can send the ticket and collection details to the survivor via a mobile phone. The survivor can then either use an e-ticket or text sent to their mobile phone, pick the ticket up from the station using any debit or credit card or the refuge can request the ticket via post and provide to the survivor in person. They can travel like normal, without having to declare the ticket was free or that they are fleeing from domestic abuse.

For more information about this scheme, please visit the Women’s Aid website.