Imagine trying to navigate your way through your local train station with your eyes closed. Or negotiating the process of buying a ticket, finding the way to the right platform and boarding the right train if your hearing was seriously impaired. You wouldn’t find it easy.
These are everyday realities for millions of people: levels of difficulty and inconvenience that make it hard or even impossible to enjoy the benefits and freedom of rail travel.
The scope of Access for All (AFA) enhancements to rail facilities is broad. For most rail users, the obvious difference in an AfA-enhanced station is likely to be step-free access to the platform. But there are multiple enhancements and improvements that are less apparent – but just as valuable to those who benefit from them.
Smaller-scale AfA enhancements include clearer signage and station announcements, better train information displays, tactile paving, improved lighting, disabled toilets, obstruction-free routes, and the use of contrasting colours to highlight routes, stairs and potential obstacles.
A Different Perspective
To put things into context, Government research recently showed that one in five people with sight loss have missed or avoided a rail journey due to access issues. Changing that reality means rethinking the entire environment in and around stations from a completely different perspective.
The blank canvas offered by a completely new station design makes the task much easier than it is with an existing asset. It calls for creativity and ingenuity to find effective and affordable solutions for stations built during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Alongside improvements to the physical environment there are exciting new technologies making access even easier for people with visual or hearing impairments. SignLive, for example, offers live BSL interpretation via a tablet or smartphone and is being implemented in some stations.
Dedicated audio guides and apps like GoodMaps also make it easier to navigate your way safely through a busy station.
Part of our role as an AfA delivery specialist is to create a welcoming environment that’s easy for everyone to navigate, and where assistive technologies can make an even bigger impact. This can take many forms depending on the station design and construction.
Find out more about our approach to delivery by signing up to our resource centre below.
