Rail accessibility and inclusion news

News about accessibility and inclusion initiatives, projects, policy, training and technology in the rail and urban transport sectors.

  • Pierre Shlimon of Sutton Vision trialling the Aira app (Photo GTR)
    Rail Business UK

    Blind passengers offered accessibility app access at all GTR stations

    2024-10-25T04:00:00Z

    UK: Govia Thameslink Railway now offers free use of a smartphone app designed to enhance accessibility for blind and partially sighted passengers at all 236 of its managed stations. The Aira Explorer app allows users to place a video call with a trained adviser who looks ...

  • Thameslink train and passengers
    Rail Business UK

    Audio guide to help blind passengers use Thameslink trains

    2024-10-09T04:00:00Z

    UK: Thameslink has released an audio guide describing its 115 Siemens Mobility Class 700 trains which was written with the help of blind passenger Dave Smith who sits on the operator’s accessibility Advisory Panel. The guide is available on the Assisted Travel pages of the company’s ...

  • Cairo sign langage on platform (Photo RATP Dev)
    Metro Report International

    Cairo operator trials sign language services

    2024-10-04T05:00:00Z

    EGYPT: Operator RATP Dev is trialling sign language services on the Capital Train line which connects Cairo with the New Administrative Capital. Instructional videos with sign language translation will be available at ticket offices and on platforms at Adly Mansour station, enabling passengers with hearing impairments ...

  • Hitachi Rail ETR1000 at InnoTrans 2024 (Photo Railway Gazette) (2)
    News

    Wheelchair accessible ETR1000 on show in Berlin

    2024-10-03T11:00:00Z

    INNOTRANS: Hitachi Rail presented the latest version of its ETR1000 trainset for Trenitalia at the InnoTrans 2024 fair in Berlin. The manufacturer is supplying 30 more trainsets to the Italian state-owned operator under a €861m contract which includes a €287m option for a further 10. ...

  • Northern train at station (Photo Northern)
    Rail Business UK

    Regulator tells Northern to improve help for disabled passengers

    2024-09-20T11:00:00Z

    UK: The Office of Rail & Road has told Northern to submit a plan to improve the way it provides assistance to disabled passengers. The operator rated poorly in the regulator’s latest survey of passengers who pre-booked additional assistance, with 18% saying the help requested was ...

  • Boston MBTA commuter train passengers (Photo: Keolis)
    News

    App trial to help blind and low vision passengers navigate Boston stations

    2024-09-09T11:00:00Z

    USA: The NaviLens smart phone navigation app for visually impaired people is being tested on Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Boston commuter rail network. Users scan brightly coloured QR-style codes posted in the stations, and the app will then help them find the correct platform, provide real-time ...

  • Queensland Train Manufacturing Program mock-up (Photo Queenland government)
    News

    Mock-up aims to ensure Queensland trains are accessible to all

    2024-08-26T13:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: A mock-up built by Allweld Manufacturing is being used to gather feedback from future users including train drivers, people with reduced mobility and cyclists to ensure that a future fleet of electric multiple-units will be accessible for all. In 2023 Downer beat CAF and Alstom ...

  • Alstom Foundation and Instituto Jô Clemente (IJC) launch project that uses Virtual Reality to promote mobility and social inclusion of people with disabilities
    Metro Report International

    Virtual Reality for Inclusion initiative helps people to use public transport with confidence

    2024-08-20T05:00:00Z

    BRAZIL: Virtual reality is being used to help people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder develop the skills to use public transport confidently and autonomously. The Virtual Reality for Inclusion initiative is hosted at the headquarters of the Jô Clemente Institute in the Vila Clementino ...

  • London Overground operating concessionaire Arriva Rail London is to test technology that translates digital passenger information into British Sign Language which can be accessed through a smart device via a personalised digital avatar.
    Rail Business UK

    Sign language translation to be tested at London Overground stations

    2024-07-02T04:00:00Z

    UK: London Overground operating concessionaire Arriva Rail London is to test technology that translates digital passenger information into British Sign Language which can be accessed through a smart device via a personalised digital avatar. The Luna platform supplied by GoMedia uses translation technology from Signapse. Trials ...

  • Derby station (Photo DfT)
    Rail Business UK

    Pilot meet-and-greet service aims to help people use Derby station

    2024-06-03T04:00:00Z

    UK: East Midlands Railway and software company WelcoMe have launched a six-month pilot of a meet-and-greet service offering customers at Derby station a bespoke appointment to better support them with accessibility needs or specific travelling requirements. Example use cases include: someone who does not require ...

  • Low-floor gauge-changing panoramic coaches have been added to enhance the accessibility of GoldenPass Express services
    News

    Low floor coaches added to the GoldenPass Express

    2024-05-31T13:00:00Z

    SWITZERLAND: Low-floor gauge-changing panoramic coaches have been added to enhance the accessibility of GoldenPass Express services between Montreux, Zweisimmen and Interlaken Ost.

  • 02-760-mm-ingangDSC_1483
    In depth

    Rolling Stock: Independently accessible M7 coach unveiled

    2024-05-23T07:00:00Z

    The first of SNCB’s multi-functional M7 push-pull coaches with a 760 mm entrance for level boarding has been presented at Alstom’s Brugge works. Dr Harry Hondius reports.

  • Docklands Light Railway passenger (Photo TfL)
    Metro Report International

    Docklands Light Railway travel assistance trial

    2024-05-17T05:00:00Z

    UK: Transport for London and Docklands Light Railway operator KeolisAmey Docklands are trialling an Access DLR scheme which aims to make travel on the automated light metro more accessible. During the a six-month trial DLR passengers will be able to pre-book a time slot between 07.00 ...

  • NSCR-construction-(1)
    In depth

    Interview: ‘We focus on intermodality and resilience’

    2024-05-16T15:00:00Z

    The Asian Development Bank is focusing on better integration of the many projects it supports, in order to drive intermodality. Meanwhile, any infrastructure ADB finances needs to be climate resilient, its Transport Director Markus Roesner explains to Benjámin Zelki at the bank’s headquarters in the Manila metropolitan area.

  • Alstom Foundation and Instituto Jô Clemente (IJC) launch project that uses Virtual Reality to promote mobility and social inclusion of people with disabilities
    Metro Report International

    Virtual reality to help people use public transport

    2024-05-14T11:00:00Z

    BRAZIL: The Alstom Foundation and Instituto Jô Clemente have launched a Virtual Reality for Inclusion initiative which aims to help people with disabilities overcome accessibility obstacles and use urban public transport safely. This will include people with cognitive disabilities, rare diseases and autistic spectrum disorders. Simulated ...

  • Delivery of Stadler EMU for Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (Photo BLM) (2)
    News

    Improvements to railway serving car-free village near completion

    2024-05-13T15:44:00Z

    SWITZERLAND: Stadler is delivering new rolling stock as part of the final stage of a programme to increase capacity and accessibility on Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren’s metre-gauge railway. Jungfraubahnen company BLM operates a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, where passengers change to a 4 km adhesion railway ...

  • Communication Access Symbol
    Rail Business UK

    Train operator obtains Communication Accessible accreditation

    2024-05-08T04:00:00Z

    UK: Communication Access UK has accredited East Midlands Railway as being Communication Accessible. This follows the train operator’s efforts to provide enhanced communication choices for customers, and to provide staff with the skills to utilise assistive technology effectively. EMR has introduced TALK cards for staff and ...

  • East West Rail jacket
    Rail Business UK

    Accessibility Advisory Panel outlines priority issues for disabled passengers

    2024-05-07T04:00:00Z

    UK: Top priorities for disabled passengers have been set out by the accessibility Advisory Panel which East West Railway Co established to help inform the design and construction of the future Oxford to Cambridge rail corridor. The panel’s priorities include: accessible toilets on trains and ...

  • Southeastern app (Photo Southeastern)
    Rail Business UK

    Accessibility options added to Southeastern journey planner

    2024-04-15T10:00:00Z

    UK: Southeastern has added features to its app and online journey planner which are designed to make it easier to plan accessible journeys. A Passenger Assistance booking tool has been integrated with the journey planner and can be used to request help with getting on and ...

  • Station lift (Photo ORR)
    Rail Business UK

    Station lift reliability needs to be improved, says regulator

    2024-03-26T11:00:00Z

    UK: The Office of Rail & Road has raised concern over the rate of station lift faults, and it is to review of Network Rail’s processes to ensure it is taking appropriate measures to plan and carry out maintenance and repairs. ORR says there are 1 ...