The Ministry of Defence has announced that bereaved family members of those who died serving in the armed forces will receive free rail travel for Remembrance weekend. The scheme, which will cover events between November 7 and 8 this year, will also be extended beyond 2026, according to veterans minister Calvin Bailey.
Eligibility and scope of the scheme
Under the initiative, families will be able to nominate one next of kin to travel for free on National Rail services to attend Remembrance events. The announcement was made by Mr Bailey, a former RAF officer who served alongside US special operations units in Afghanistan, speaking at the Cenotaph in Central London.
Mr Bailey did not disclose the amount of money set aside for the scheme but insisted that no eligible family members will be turned down. He said: "The scheme's been costed, it's funded, and it will be continued beyond this year."
Minister's remarks on national commemoration
Mr Bailey emphasised the importance of the scheme, stating: "We think this is an essential part of commemoration. It's something that I feel perhaps should have just been a given, and I hope it because this shouldn't be a discussion point." He added: "This should have been something that we have been doing for a long time. When people give everything for their country, we should ensure that their families are able to feel as though they're part of that connective tissue."
Speaking about the personal cost of attending events, he said: "Coming here is a significant event, but coming here can come at great personal expense. It's an emotionally difficult period for those people that have lost someone, but it's a very significant thing to be at the heart of our national commemorations, and as we've heard from those members of bereaved families today, being here in any number helps them to ensure that connection remains."
Support for serving personnel and veterans
The scheme builds on the Government's existing free travel offer for serving personnel and veterans. Mr Bailey said he had asked the Department for Transport to ensure there are no "unnecessary impediments" over the Remembrance Day weekend caused by train delays or cancellations.
Mikki Brett, the widow of the late CPO Stuart Brett, who served in the Weapons Engineering branch of the Royal Navy and died in service in April 2023, welcomed the announcement. She said: "It's fantastic news that the in-service bereaved have been recognised for the support given to their loved ones with free train fares to remembrance events this year."
The scheme will be available for Remembrance weekend events this year and will continue in subsequent years, ensuring that bereaved families can participate in national commemorations without the burden of travel costs.
