New audio guides launched at Luton Parkway and Stevenage stations
The guides describe the stations and their facilities, helping passengers familiarise themselves with them beforehand
New audio guides have been launched to help blind and partially sighted passengers familiarise themselves with stations before making a journey.
They are available for Luton Parkway and Stevenage railway stations, helping blind and partially sighted passengers travel more independently.
The guides describe the layout of the stations, their facilities and key points passengers may need to know before they arrive.
They have been developed by Sight Loss Councils in partnership with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), following feedback from blind and partially sighted people about the challenges of navigating busy and noisy railway stations.
Dave Smith, Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager for South East England, said:
“As blind and partially sighted people, we rely heavily on public transport to access work, and medical and social appointments. These guides we’ve developed with GTR will make rail travel so much easier.”
Roger Perkins from GTR said the guides could also give passengers greater confidence when using the railway.
“It can give people that added confidence that they too can travel, just as people with regular sight, regular vision can.”
The guides can be listened to in advance, allowing passengers to familiarise themselves with a station and where they can find different facilities before making a journey.
The project was funded through GTR's Your Station, Your Community fund.
Sight Loss Councils have been working with communities to gather feedback from passengers and identify ways to improve accessibility.
The audio guides are available through the 'Support whilst you're travelling' sections of the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern websites.
Six stations are currently covered by the guides: Luton Parkway, Stevenage, Brighton, Eastbourne, London Blackfriars and Sutton.