CrossCountry has announced they will be extending the Rail to Refuge Scheme across their services to support people escaping abuse.
In Partnership with Women's Aid, the Rail to Refuge Scheme has been life-changing for over 20,000 Women and Children between 2019 and 2020.
The scheme allows people experiencing domestic abuse to apply for free rail travel to travel to a location with refuge accommodation.
Unfortunately for many individuals and people, the lockdowns brought in to reduce the spread of COVID-19 amplified the number of people experiencing domestic abuse, with more people being affected.
In many cases, the abuser has control over finances, making escaping even harder, especially for people needing/wanting to travel great distances to get away from their abuser.
The extension of the scheme will give more people the vital chance to finally escape from their situation and live in a safe and secure environment, where they can look into how they can their life for the better.
CrossCountry's Managing Director Tom Joyner said: “Sadly, there has been a rise in domestic abuse cases during the pandemic with many women, men and children fleeing their homes. Our support of the Rail to Refuge scheme is our way of helping those most vulnerable at this time. I am delighted to support the scheme's extension and play our part in helping those in need.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I support every effort to counter the insidious and heinous crime of domestic abuse. Rail to Refuge has helped hundreds of survivors to reach safety by removing the financial barriers that prevent escape. ”
“Extending this vital support is truly lifesaving and I thank all those working so hard to help keep people safe on our railways.”
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If only Crosscountry could operate the Liverpool Lime Street-Norwich route that EMR is to split the route and to end at Nottingham. Would be beneficial for Norwich to have connections with the Midlands without having to go via into London and to come out of London towards the Midlands.