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.
Detailed information on step-free access, lift status, toilets, baby-changing areas and staff assistance availability is now displayed more prominently.
The update forms part of a wider effort to ensure passengers can easily find accurate information about the level of support available at each station. This makes use of accessibility data collected through an audit led by the Department for Transport which reviewed every station to make sure the information available online is accurate and useful.
Workshops and feedback sessions enabled people with lived experience of disability to explain what information matters to them when planning a journey. The website changes were also tested with people who have a range of access needs, including mobility and neurological conditions, visual or hearing impairments and learning differences.
The Shaw Trust charity carried out checks to make sure the new pages are accessible on different devices and easy to use for people with diverse needs.
‘The railway is for everyone, and that means ensuring passengers have access to clear, reliable, and accessible station information is a priority for us’, said RDG CEO Jacqueline Starr on September 15. ‘These improvements to station pages will empower people to plan and navigate their journeys with greater confidence. We know there is always more to do, and we remain committed to continuously improving accessibility and making rail travel easier for everyone.’
