Rail accessibility and inclusion news
News about accessibility and inclusion initiatives, projects, policy, training and technology in the railway and urban transport sectors.
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Rail Business UKAI booking tool shows that travel demand from disabled passengers is higher than thought
UK: Software developer Transreport says that the market for travel by disabled and older people is higher than had previously been thought, as until now data has reflected ease of access to the booking system rather than the underlying demand.
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Rail Business UKAgentic AI, accessibility and appetite for risk on minds of young rail innovators
UK: Agentic AI, accessibility and risk appetite were key themes at the inaugural Young Rail Professionals Innovation Conference. Nick Kingsley reports.
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Rail Business UKEDI Charter for Rail Working Group appoints new leaders
UK: Leadership changes have been announced at the EDI Charter for Rail Working Group, which was founded by the Railway Industry Association and Women in Rail.
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Rail Business UKTrain operators call on innovators to solve four challenges
UK: The latest round of the Future Labs innovation programme is seeking proposals to address four challenges faced by train operators.
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Rail Business UKNorthern Trains commits to rectifying accessibility failings
UK: Following an investigation by the Office of Rail & Road, Northern Trains has committed to a £550 000 package of improvement measures and to ensuring that its staff receive disability awareness training.
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Rail Business UKDisabled Persons Railcard eligibility widens from March 1
UK: Eligibility for a Disabled Persons Railcard will be extended from March 1 to include a broader range of visible and non-visible disabilities.
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Rail Business UKTfL seeks ideas to provide calm spaces for neurodivergent passengers
UK: Transport for London is seeking market feedback on potential ways to provide neurodivergent passengers with a calm, quiet space when travelling on the public transport network, without needing to undertake any infrastructure changes.
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Rail Business UKModel Stations concept demonstrates inclusivity enhancements
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway is upgrading three stations to demonstrate its Model Stations concept for making facilities simpler to navigate, more welcoming and more inclusive for passengers.
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NewsVIA Rail launches three-year accessibility plan
CANADA: National passenger operator VIA Rail has launched its 2026-29 Accessibility Plan, developed with specialist partners and people with disabilities to make its network, digital tools and workplace increasingly inclusive.
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Rail Business UK‘Eye-opener’ trip helps train operator listen to deaf passengers
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway received eye-opening feedback from deaf passengers who it took on a return trip from Cambridge to Stevenage to gain greater understanding of what needs to be done to make independent travel easier.
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NewsPassenger information screen changes improve readability and save energy
NETHERLANDS: Station passenger information screens have been switched from a light to a dark background, after studies found this would make then more readable for more people, as well as being more energy-efficient.
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Rail Business UKEligibility for Disabled Persons Railcard to be expanded
UK: The eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard are to be expanded so that both visible and non-visible disabilities are better recognised.
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Rail Business UKGreat Western Railway gains autism inclusivity award
UK: Great Western Railway has gained the National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award for businesses which become more inclusive by providing accessible customer services, information and environments.
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Rail Business UKTrain operators investigate centralised British Sign Language information system
UK: The Rail Delivery Group is planning to develop a centralised British Sign Language real-time information system to make the national railway network more inclusive for deaf passengers.
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Rail Business UKRail regulator tightens rules on redress when disabled passenger assistance fails
UK: An update to the Office of Rail & Road’s Accessible Travel Policy guidance has made it mandatory for all train and station operators to make a case-by-case assessment of claims for redress from disabled passengers when their booked assistance fails.
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Rail Business UKc2c to provide GoodMaps digital wayfinding at all its stations
UK: Commuter train operator c2c Railway is to make GoodMaps’ digital wayfinding technology available to improve accessibility at all 26 stations on its London to Shoeburyness route.
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NewsTourist train developed with the needs of older passengers in mind
CHINA: The YINLV tourist train has been developed by CRRC Changchun and China Railway Harbin Group to offer ‘middle-aged and elderly’ passengers a ‘comfortable, high-quality’ journey.
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NewsLow floors meet high speeds as DB unveils ICE L fleet
GERMANY: DB and manufacturer Talgo has unveiled an ICE L inter-city trainset at Berlin Ostbahnhof, saying the fleet would set standards for accessibility and family friendliness.
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Rail Business UKNational Rail station webpages revamped to better meet accessibility information needs
UK: The Rail Delivery Group and Valtech have updated the National Rail website’s station pages to make them clearer and provide the accessibility information that disabled passengers say they need.
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Rail Business UKGreater Anglia adds ability to book passenger assistance when buying a ticket
UK: Greater Anglia says it is the first train operating company to introduce a streamlined booking process enabling disabled and older passengers to pre-book assistance at the same time as buying tickets on the Greater Anglia website.