free train travel for ukrainian refugees wales

Free travel for refugees

The free travel scheme for refugees ends 31 march 2024.

The free travel scheme for refugees will no longer be available on bus and train services in Wales from 1 April 2024. From this date you will need to pay for your travel.

You may be eligible for one of the free or discounted travel schemes also available if you are: 

• 60 years or over 
• a disabled passenger
• a child or young person

For further information on these and other discounted travel tickets please see  www.traveline.cymru or contact your local bus operator.

For other rail ticket discounts available please visit: tfw.wales/railcards .

Also, for details of rail ticket types, please visit: tfw.wales/ticket-types .

The free travel scheme for refugees provides unlimited travel on:

All Transport for Wales rail services, boarding and alighting at TfW stations in both England and Wales *

bus services that cross into England if starting or finishing in Wales

all local bus services

*Please note: This scheme is valid on TfW services between two TfW stations only. Tickets must be purchased for non-TfW stations and services.

The scheme is available for all refugees and those seeking international protection in Wales, in line with our Nation of Sanctuary vision on production of one of the following:

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) marked that someone is a ‘Refugee’, has ‘HP’ or ‘Humanitarian Protection’, or includes the words ‘Afghan’, ‘Ukraine’ or ‘Hong Kong’;

Personally addressed letter issued by the Home Office / Home Secretary confirming anyone of the statuses in subsection a; or

Valid Ukrainian, Afghan or Hong Kong British National Overseas passport.

Do you use any of the following documents as proof of eligibility for free travel on our trains? After 31 March 2024, we'll no longer be able to accept these and you'll need to pay the appropriate fare for your journey.

There is no need to apply to participate in this scheme.

If you are consistently unable to produce valid proof of eligibility, free travel may not be provided, and standard fares may apply.

Fraudulent use will result in free transport being withdrawn immediately and reported to the relevant authorities. This may lead to prosecution.

Individual operator conditions of carriage apply for journeys made.

Wales offers free rail travel for Ukrainian refugees for six months, Mark Drakeford announces

The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has announced that from today, refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine can travel for free on Transport for Wales services.

The scheme will help the refugees while they are settling in Wales, with the free travel scheme running for six months. Ukrainian nationals can claim free travel by showing a Ukraine passport to conductors and station staff.

The scheme is an extension of an ongoing Welsh Government programme which provides free public transport for asylum seekers in Wales, as part of its ambition to become the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary as endorsed by the United Nations.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “My message to the people of Ukraine is clear; there is a warm welcome waiting for you in Wales.

“Transport for Wales providing free travel for all refugees is another action which shows Wales is a place of safety and sanctuary for those who need our help.

“I am also proud that Wales intends to become a super-sponsor for the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will provide a safe route for people to come to the UK for up to three years.”

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said: “All of us will have seen the shocking and distressing scenes from Ukraine over the past few weeks. Many of us have been deeply affected by what’s happening, and we want to do what we can to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need.

“We’re proud of our record of supporting groups with free travel, including being a part of the nation Rail to Refuge scheme offering free travel for people fleeing domestic abuse, and offering free rail travel for NHS workers during 2020. This is a further extension of our commitment to social justice and helping make the world a better place.”

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Ukrainian refugees in Wales offered free rail travel for six months

• War in Europe
• Transport for Wales
• Thursday 17 March 2022 at 1:35pm

Ukrainian refugees in Wales will be offered free train travel for six months, the Welsh Government has announced.

The First Minister said the free travel scheme aims to help people settle here after fleeing the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian nationals can travel on Transport for Wales services by showing a Ukraine passport to conductors and station staff.

Mark Drakeford has said that Wales would like to welcome 1,000 refugees from Ukraine in a first stage of a "super-sponsorship" scheme.

Mr Drakeford said: “My message to the people of Ukraine is clear; there is a warm welcome waiting for you in Wales.

“Transport for Wales providing free travel for all refugees is another action which shows Wales is a place of safety and sanctuary for those who need our help.

“I am also proud that Wales intends to become a super-sponsor for the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will provide a safe route for people to come to the UK for up to three years.”

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said: “All of us will have seen the shocking and distressing scenes from Ukraine over the past few weeks. Many of us have been deeply affected by what's happening, and we want to do what we can to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need.

“We’re proud of our record of supporting groups with free travel, including being a part of the nation Rail to Refuge scheme offering free travel for people fleeing domestic abuse, and offering free rail travel for NHS workers during 2020. This is a further extension of our commitment to social justice and helping make the world a better place.”

The scheme is an extension of an ongoing Welsh Government programme providing free public transport for asylum seekers in Wales.

It's part of its ambition to become the world’s first 'Nation of Sanctuary', endorsed by the United Nations.

Posted: Thu 17th Mar 2022

Free rail travel scheme announced for Ukrainian refugees who settle in Wales

Refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine can travel for free on Transport for Wales services, the First Minister has announced.

The scheme will help the refugees while they are settling in Wales and will run for six months.

Ukrainian nationals can claim free travel by showing a Ukraine passport to conductors and station staff.

The scheme is an extension of an ongoing Welsh Government programme which provides free public transport for asylum seekers in Wales, as part of its ambition to become the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary as endorsed by the United Nations.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “My message to the people of Ukraine is clear; there is a warm welcome waiting for you in Wales.

“Transport for Wales providing free travel for all refugees is another action which shows Wales is a place of safety and sanctuary for those who need our help.

“I am also proud that Wales intends to become a super-sponsor for the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will provide a safe route for people to come to the UK for up to three years.”

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said: “All of us will have seen the shocking and distressing scenes from Ukraine over the past few weeks.

“Many of us have been deeply affected by what’s happening, and we want to do what we can to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need.

“We’re proud of our record of supporting groups with free travel, including being a part of the nation Rail to Refuge scheme offering free travel for people fleeing domestic abuse, and offering free rail travel for NHS workers during 2020.

“This is a further extension of our commitment to social justice and helping make the world a better place.”

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• Tel: 0808 196 7273

Support for Ukrainian Refugees

We are funded by Welsh Government to deliver a specialist Ukraine support service.

We work closely with local authorities and stakeholders across Wales to support Ukrainian refugees.

How we can help you:

• Support applying for a bank account.
• Support applying for Universal Credit, Child Benefits and Pension Credit.
• ESOL classes.
• Employment and Education advice.
• Lost Biometric Residence Permits.
• Chasing delayed Biometric Residence Permits cards.
• Making appointments to discuss your housing options.
• Help looking for a private rented accommodation.
• Liaise with landlords and Housing Options and support with  paperwork.
• Referral to a tenancy support worker.
• Referral to free legal and immigration advice and guidance
• Registering children in local schools.
• Registering with a GP.

We also partner with charities to provide support:  

• Want to get your voice heard? –  DPIA  host  Advocacy Forums  for Ukrainian Refugees
• Want help with mental health? –  Oasis  provides free  Mindspring Training  Sessions for Ukrainians.

Services for Ukrainian refugees

Wales-wide services.

• Free bus and train  valid until 31 March 2023 (when this will be reviewed).
• Free ESOL courses through Adult Learning Wales  Hubs in Newport, Cardiff, Wrexham, and Swansea.
• The Welsh Government has created a website for sanctuary seekers in Wales  with a dedicated section on Ukraine .  Find out  about your rights, life in Wales and services available to you.

Free online services

• The Open University has created  free resources for Ukrainians settling in the UK and Ireland.
• Free downloadable educational and mental health activities for kids.
• Free reading resources  for Ukrainian pupils.

Local authority services

Contact your local council to find out what services they can provide to you as a Ukrainian refugee

• Find your local authority | GOV.WALES

Our specialist Ukraine Team are:

• Ukraine Manager: Nick Wysoczanskyj
• Ukraine Caseworker (Pan-Wales): Vladyslava Zhmuro
• Ukraine Caseworker (Pan-Wales): Fayrouz Hakam
• Ukraine Caseworker (Wrexham) : Olena Baseiko
• Ukraine Caseworker (Carmarthenshire) : Nick Walters

We provide face-to-face appointments in our offices on:

• Mondays –  10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 15:00.
• Tuesdays –  10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 15:00.
• Wednesdays  –  CLOSED 
• Thursdays –  10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 15:00.
• Fridays –  10:00 – 13:00,  we are CLOSED in the afternoon. 
• Saturday – CLOSED 
• Sunday – CLOSED 

We offer drop-in services strictly on an emergency basis.  If you attend the office for an emergency drop-in, your level of need will be assessed by our triage. If your issue is not deemed to be an emergency, you will be asked to book in an appointment.

Call us  on our freephone number  0808 196 7273  to book an appointment.

You will reach one of our team members and if we can help, one of our experienced caseworkers will contact you. If you need an interpreter we will do our best to have someone available on the phone.

What our clients have said:

“I want to note that upon arriving in Wales, we are constantly helped by the Welsh, they impress me with their kindness and generosity. One of such people is Susan, a teacher, volunteer from Chepstow, who helps us, Ukrainians, to start learning English in order to integrate into society as soon as possible. I am infinitely grateful to Susan for her perseverance and friendliness, since she, having evaluated the knowledge I have already acquired at the Ukrainian school, works with me individually. I appreciate her help and the time she spends with me improving my English language skills.”

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• Train tickets /
• Free travel for Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian displaced persons travel scheme

We’re joining the uk railway industry in providing free travel for ukrainian refugees on the national rail network.

To help Ukrainian citizens travelling to the UK, we're offering free onward travel on South Western Railway services to get you to a safe place. 

To make use of the Ukrainian displaced persons travel scheme, you will need to show your Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing your arrival into the UK. The offer is also valid on all train operators in England, Scotland, and Wales, and you’ll have 48 hours from arrival in the UK to complete your journey.

If your journey requires you to travel between London national rail stations, you’ll be able to use London Underground and DLR services to do so.

Head to our journey planner  to plan your journey. To make planning easier, you can also translate our website into Ukrainian using the accessibility tools at the top of this page.

You'll be eligible for free travel if you're a Ukrainian that's arrived into the UK within the last 48 hours. 

The journey can be claimed within 48 hours of arrival. The free travel scheme started on 26 March 2022 and will continue until 24 July 2023. Arrangements for after 24 July 2023 are being considered.

All the information can be translated into Ukrainian using the accessibility tools at the top of the page, or you can visit nationalrail.co.uk/ukraine .

You will not need a permit to travel. Show your passport and travel document to a member of our staff at the station or on board the train to confirm that you’ve travelled from Ukraine, and you’ll be allowed to travel.

We’ve got generous luggage allowances, and we’ll take your situation into account when you travel. You can find out more about what’s allowed on our trains on our luggage information page .

Any visas or legal documents required to enter the UK will have been checked before you arrive in the UK by Border Force personnel, and you won’t be asked to show it again by our colleagues on board. You’ll need to present your Ukrainian passport and a ticket or boarding pass showing when you arrived in the UK.

Engineering works will affect your journey

You need to enable JavaScript in your browser to see Live train arrivals and departures through this website� (and also instructions on how to enable JavaScript)

Ukraine war latest: Zelenskyy pleads with allies for help after deadly Russian strikes

At least three people were killed this morning after Russia launched a round of air strikes against several cities in Ukraine. Below, watch a Sky News exclusive on the Ukrainian resistance operating behind Russian lines.

Monday 26 August 2024 22:52, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Russia unleashes missile and drone barrage across Ukraine
• At least three dead as 15 regions hit - with explosions heard in Kyiv
• Ukraine says it shot down 102 missiles in 'most massive' attack
• Zelenskyy pleads with allies for help - as Kremlin issues warning
• Search under way for military object that landed in Poland
• Watch: Who are Ukraine's secret resistance?
• Your questions answered: Can Ukraine advance further inside Russia?

We're pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

We'll be back with more updates and analysis tomorrow, but before we go, here's a recap of the key developments that took place today.

Russia unleashed 236 drones and missiles in a massive attack on Ukraine. Seven people were killed and 15 regions were struck, with explosions heard in the capital, Kyiv. Ukraine said hypersonic missiles were used in the assault.

Ukrainian officials called on Western allies to provide air defence resources and to allow the long-range use of their weapons on targets inside Russia.

One of the drones likely strayed into Polish territory , leading 100 soldiers to search for the equipment, said Jacek Goryszewski, spokesperson for the Polish army's operational command. NATO condemned this as "irresponsible and potentially dangerous."

"Fierce battles" raged around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk , according to the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces. Russian forces made 38 attempts to storm Ukrainian positions near the strategic logistics hub.

The Institute for the Study of War identified areas of the frontline from which the Russian military is likely redeploying forces to Kursk: Northern Kharkiv, Chasiv Yar and western Zaporizhzhia.

The head of the international nuclear watchdog said he will lead a mission to inspect Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant tomorrow amid fighting in the region.

At least seven people have been killed and 47 people injured, including four children, by Russia's bombardment, Ukrainian authorities say.

Some civilian facilities were attacked with cluster munitions, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Videos posted on social media showed strikes on a hydropower plant, a dam and a water reservoir.

Strikes on power or critical infrastructure were reported in Volyn and Rivne in the northwest; Khmelnytskyi, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west; Zhytomyr in the north; Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Vinnytsia in central Ukraine; Zaporizhzhia in the southeast; and Odesa in the south.

A 69-year-old man in the Dnipropetrovsk region and a farmer in the Zaporizhzhia region were among those confirmed dead. 

The other killings took place in the regions of Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Volyn.

NATO has condemned Russia's "irresponsible" attacks after alliance member Poland reported the likely landing of a drone on its territory.

"Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian drone fragments and missiles have been found on allied territory on several occasions," NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said. 

"While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous." 

There are reports of another wave of drone attacks this evening, a Ukrainian MP tells Sky News.

Ukraine is also expecting more missiles overnight, says Lesia Vasylenko.

Russia is attacking energy infrastructure, leaving regions without water and power, yet the West will not let Ukraine stop them, she says.

"It's a nonsense that Russians are attacking civilian targets inside of Ukraine on a daily basis, using missiles with components from Western countries, and then those Western countries, including the US, are blocking Ukraine being able to defend itself and to destroy the military targets from which these attacks have been launched," she says."

This is not a retaliation for the Kursk offensive, she says, pointing out that this has been part of Russia's strategy since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"'Winters should be dark and cold for Ukrainians': That's that's the message that Russia is trying to convey and this is what they're trying to make real."

She adds: "When it gets really, really cold, it's going to be absolutely unliveable."

But Ukraine is not prepared to "just surrender and see our homes destroyed and see our loved ones being taken into prisons and to torture centres", says Ms Vasylenko.

As Ukraine came under fire from a massive wave of Russian missiles and drones today, beneath the streets of Kyiv, residents sung the city's anthem.

The chorus echoed through the subway, where families took shelter from the bombardment.

The Kremlin said it has seen media reports about the death of Ryan Evans, a British safety adviser working for Reuters, in a missile strike on a Ukrainian hotel.

Moscow said it only targeted military infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly hit civilian targets over the course of the war.

"I'll repeat once again: Strikes are carried out against military infrastructure objects, and, or against targets related to military infrastructure in one way or another," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the incident.

Mr Peskov did not say whether he put security advisers who protect journalists in the military category. 

"I have read information from employees of the agency that we're not talking about a journalist here, but about some kind of security adviser," he said.

Asked subsequently by Reuters to provide further details and explain his remarks, Mr Peskov did not immediately respond.

Ryan Evans, 38, a member of the Reuters team covering the war in Ukraine, was killed and two Reuters journalists were injured in a strike on a hotel in the eastern city of Kramatorsk.

Like many news organisations, Reuters employs safety advisers to work with journalists deployed in conflict zones.

Mr Evans, a former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022 and advised its journalists on safety around the world including in Ukraine, Israel and at the Paris Olympics. 

A worker was killed in a fire that ripped through Russia's Omsk oil refinery, management has said.

Another six workers were injured, the refinery added. 

Earlier today, the local governor said seven people were in hospital, with one in a serious condition.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Several Russian oil refineries have been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks. 

Some reports on social media said a huge explosion was heard across several districts of the west Siberia city, located around 1,700 miles east of Moscow.

The Omsk refinery processes more than 21 million metric tons, accounting for 8% of Russia's total oil refining volume.

The plant, controlled by Gazprom Neft, said the fire would not affect its production plan.

"Fierce battles are raging" around the eastern city of Pokrovsk, according to the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Russian forces have made 38 attempts to storm Ukrainian positions near the strategic logistics hub today, with clashes ongoing in 14 locations, it said.

"There remains a tense situation in the Pokrovsky direction," the general staff said, referring to the name for the district.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has decided to "further strengthen" Pokrovsk after being briefed by his army chief on the situation in the area. 

Russian forces have been inching forward for months in the Donetsk region, where Pokrovsk is located.

The advance quickened in recent weeks as Moscow's troops  mounted relentless attacks in the direction of Pokrovsk.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has identified areas of the frontline from which the Russian military is likely redeploying forces to Kursk.

Moscow is drawing troops from northern Kharkiv, Chasiv Yar and western Zaporizhzhia - the latter of which readers may remember was a focal point of Ukraine's counteroffensive last year.

Russian command is resisting pressure to redeploy forces away from its "high priority offensive" on Pokrovsk in Donetsk, said the ISW.

It will "likely continue to draw forces from lower priority offensive operations elsewhere throughout the theatre to defend in Kursk", the ISW said.

The Russian defence ministry says it struck Ukrainian forces with airstrikes at more than a dozen places along the front in the Kursk region today.

Moscow said it also repelled attacks in seven areas of Kursk.

The ministry said it was hunting for Ukrainian sabotage units which had hidden in the forests in an attempt to penetrate deeper into Russian territory.

Russia's attack on Ukraine today was its largest air bombardment, Reuters reports Ukraine's air force commander as saying.

The air force shot down 102 of 127 Russian missiles and 99 of 109 drones, Mykola Oleshchuk said.

Russia has bombarded Ukraine for more than two and half years, and launched attacks on 15 regions this morning.

Mr Oleshchuk said the attack included:

• 109 Shahed drones launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Yeisk, Chauda and Crimea
• 77 Kh-101 cruise missiles from fighter jets over Volgograd and the Caspian Sea
• 28 Kalibr cruise missiles from surface/underwater carriers in the Black Sea
• 10 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles from fighter jets over Belgorod and Mariupol
• Six Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk, Voronezh and Crimea
• Three Kinzhal ballistic missiles fired from the Ryazan and Lipetsk regions
• 3 Kh-22 cruise missiles from the Voronezh region

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Guidance and services

• Get help if you are a Ukrainian coming to Wales
• Homes for Ukraine: move on information for guests with pets
• Homes for Ukraine: move on information for guests
• Free bus and train travel advice for refugees
• Bringing your pet to Wales from Ukraine: frequently asked questions
• How you can help the people of Ukraine
• Offer a home in Wales to refugees from Ukraine
• Homes for Ukraine: advice and guidance for hosts and sponsors
• Homes for Ukraine: advice and guidance for local authorities
• Workers from Ukraine: advice and guidance for employers
• Homes for Ukraine: Code of Conduct guidance

Policy and background Includes strategy, reports, projects and assessments.

• Wales as a super sponsor Policy and strategy

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Scottish government ends free bus travel for asylum seekers: 'Disappointing and devastating'

Free bus travel boosted mental health and integration for asylum seekers, refugee organisations said. But the Scottish government has ended a £2million pilot

Asylum seekers were given free bus travel in Scotland under a pilot scheme. Image: V267 ESX/Flickr

Refugee organisations have criticised the Scottish government’s “disappointing and devastating” decision to end free bus travel for asylum seekers.

The scheme provided a “glimpse of hope for the future” for asylum seekers, said the leader of one charity, as the government decided to end a pilot which had run since October 2023.

Free travel reduced isolation, enhanced integration, and improved health and wellbeing for asylum seekers – who are unable to work and survive on less than £50 a week – said Ekta Marwaha, chief executive of Refugee Sanctuary Scotland.

“It is concerning and disappointing to hear this news today and we are sorry to all the asylum seekers who had been shown a glimpse of hope for the future,” Marwaha told the Big Issue.

STATEMENT ON FREE BUS TRAVEL We are extremely disappointed with the announcement by the Scottish Government to scrap the commitment to implement the Free Bus Travel pilot scheme for people seeking asylum in Scotland. @scotgov @FionaHyslop pic.twitter.com/8f2BcL5a09 — Maryhill Integration Network (@Maryhill_IN) August 19, 2024

Announced in October 2023 with £2m of funding, Scotland’s initiative inspired similar calls across the country. Oxfordshire County Council was considering bus travel for asylum seekers as of June , with one Green Party councillor branding it “performative cruelty” to deny them a bus pass.

A campaign in London has pushed Sadiq Khan to adopt a similar policy, and at a protest in February asylum seekers told the Big Issue they had missed dental appointments and struggled with education as they were unable to travel.

Scotland’s is not the only government-backed scheme to be rolled back. In Wales, a “Welcome Ticket” scheme for buses and trains which had run since March 2022 ended on 31 March – but the Welsh government said it planned a future replacement.

“This decision will have a significant negative impact for people seeking asylum in Scotland. For some, it was a last ray of hope under such difficult and hostile policies,” said the Maryhill Integration Network on X as it shared the news.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said:   “The Scottish government is having to make very difficult decisions to deliver balanced and sustainable spending plans for the 2024-25 financial year, therefore it is unaffordable to progress piloting free bus travel for all people seeking asylum in Scotland. 

“People seeking asylum in Scotland who are currently eligible for free bus travel through the National Concessionary Travel Schemes, including those under 22 and over 60 years of age and those with disabilities, will continue to be able to make use of their entitlement. 

“We remain committed to supporting people seeking asylum, refugees and communities through the New Scots refugee integration strategy approach. We want to work collaboratively with the UK government to contribute ideas that build on shared priorities and where possible provide evidence of impacts and needs. By working together and sharing learning, there is great potential for tangible improvements to be made for refugees and people seeking asylum living in the UK.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more . Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the  App Store  or  Google Play .

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