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Make Trains Accessible

Make Trains Accessible

Sight Loss Councils work with rail operators across the UK to make journeys more accessible for blind and partially sighted people.

Using lived experience, our volunteers help identify barriers, influence improvements and create practical solutions that support safer, more independent travel.

Why accessible rail travel matters

More than two million people in the UK are living with sight loss, and a further 250 people begin to lose their sight every day. Despite this, many blind and partially sighted people still experience barriers when using public transport.

Our VI Lives report found that 25% of blind and partially sighted people cannot get out as much as they would like, while 33% are unable to use public transport as often as they’d like. During Listening Month, people also told us about difficulties accessing booking services, using transport apps and receiving passenger assistance.

Accessible transport helps people access work, education, healthcare, leisure activities and social connections.

Our rail accessibility partnerships

To help make this a reality, Sight Loss Councils work alongside rail operators to carry out accessibility assessments, develop audio and written guides, deliver visual awareness sessions to staff, and provide opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to build confidence when travelling by train. By combining lived experience with industry expertise, we help create practical improvements that benefit passengers now and in the future.

We are currently working with a number of rail partners across England, including GTR, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express. Together, these partnerships are helping improve accessibility at stations, develop travel resources and ensure the voices of blind and partially sighted people are at the heart of decision-making.

“It’s fantastic to see rail operators investing in accessibility and recognising the important role lived experience plays in creating meaningful change. Through our partnerships with GTR, Avanti West Coast and the TransPennine Route Upgrade programme, Sight Loss Councils are helping ensure the voices of blind and partially sighted people are shaping the future of rail travel. We hope this work encourages more operators to invest in accessibility and work directly with the communities they serve.”

Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Engagement at Thomas Pocklington Trust

Two male staff members sit at a table, engaged in an activity during the VI Awareness session. Both are wearing simulation glasses and looking towards each other. The person on the right is wearing a light blue, short sleeved Greater Anglia shirt and the person on the right is wearing a red sleeveless vest over his light blue shirt. Behind them, a large red and white Greater Anglia display board features large text and graphics.

Greater Anglia staff gain confidence supporting blind and partially sighted passengers through Essex SLC partnershipGreater Anglia staff are gaining new skills and confidence in supporting blind and partially sighted passengers thanks to a partnership with Essex Sight Loss Council. Read more

A group shot of everyone standing in the entrance hall at East Croydon station posing for the camera

South East London ‘Try a Train’ event opens doors to independent travelSouth East London Sight Loss Council (SLC) recently hosted its third Try a Train event of the year, to open up accessible rail travel for blind and partially sighted people. Read more

Antony Merlyn, Accessibility Engagement Manager, talking to a VI attendee at London SLCs Try a Train event. Antony is showing and explaining a feature on board the train.

Confidence on the Tracks: Sight Loss Councils Share Stories of Accessible Rail TravelSight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted (BPS) volunteers, are sharing their rail travel stories as part of this year’s Railway 200 celebrations, marking 200 years since the... Read more

Lived experiences from the platform: Kate and Peter’s storyFor many blind and partially sighted people, using public transport can feel daunting – especially when faced with unfamiliar routes, inconsistent accessibility, and the fear of the unknown. But for... Read more

Mike Wright, reached his end goal of getting to the Dragonboat Event after using public transport successfully.

From barriers to boarding: Mike’s journey through decades of rail accessibility Blind and partially sighted people rely heavily on public transport to live their lives. This includes to socialise, play sports, visit friends and family, and more. In this article, Merseyside... Read more

Portrait image of Steve Keith, Birmingham and Black Country SLC member, standing on a train platform with his guide dog. A train is on the opposite side of the tracks.

Passenger assistance transformed my travel – Steve’s story Meet Steve, a volunteer with Birmingham and Black Country Sight Loss Council, who shares how improvements in rail travel have helped him feel safer, more confident, and more independent. But ,... Read more

A group shot of LSLCs and attendees at the first London, Your Station, Your Community Coffee and Chat event at Blackfriars station.

Advanced preview of new resources to make train travel more accessible for blind and partially sighted peopleThis spring, Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) in London, the South-East and East of England invite blind and partially sighted (BPS) people to their second ‘Coffee and Chat’ events with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). These events will also give an advanced preview of our new, free resources designed to help you navigate your train journeys more easily.   Read more

Sight Loss Councils celebrate successful ‘Coffee and Chat’ eventsIn October and November, Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) invited blind and partially sighted (BPS) people to six ‘Coffee and Chat’ events with Govia Thameslink Railway at stations across London, the... Read more

Colleagues from Thomas Pocklington Trust and Greater Anglia at Colchester station (credit: Greater Anglia)

Art exhibition shines a light on sight loss at Colchester railway stationA new exhibition has launched at Colchester railway station, created in partnership with Essex Sight Loss Council and Greater Anglia. The display aims to raise awareness of sight loss and... Read more

A group of seven people of mixed ages, genders and ethnicities. Some are holding white canes and there is one person with a guide dog. The group is standing in front of a red sign that reads, 'South Fylde Line' at a train station. There is an Amazon locker to the left and trees in the background.

Railway 200 event run by and for blind and partially sighted people to build travel confidence Blind and partially sighted residents from across Lancashire came together for a special event hosted by the Lancashire Sight Loss Council and Community Rail Lancashire aimed at boosting their confidence... Read more

A group shot of 17 people of varying ages, genders, and ethnicities standing together at Wimbledon station. Five people are holding their long canes. Some people are carrying rucksacks, handbags, and coffee cups. Antony Merlyn stands at the front of the group in the middle, smiling at the camera. He is smartly dressed in a navy suit and tie, is holding a notebook, and carrying a rucksack.

Govia Thameslink Railway and Sight Loss Councils host transformational ‘Try a Train’ event at Sutton and Wimbledon stationsSouth West London Sight Loss Council and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which runs Southern and Thameslink trains, have hosted ‘Try a Train’ events at Sutton and Wimbledon railway stations. These events... Read more

Staff from Greater Anglia's management team, stood with Samantha Leftwich, Engagement Manager for East England and Guide Dog Lizzie, and Essex SLC member, Alex Ramzan and his guide dog.

Essex SLC partner with Greater Anglia railwayEssex Sight Loss Council has partnered with Greater Anglia railway to increase the accessibility of its services for blind and partially sighted people. Read more

Dave Smith demonstrating the AIRA app inside a station to the Local Transport Minister in Brighton. He is walking holding his smartphone which he uses to speak to an AIRA operator. Transport Minister Simon Lightfoot walks behind him. In the background are crowds of people and passengers, and the stations electronic information boards.

SLCs work with Govia to make rail network more accessibleSight Loss Councils are continuing to work with Govia Thameslink Railway to make the region’s rail network more accessible for blind and partially sighted passengers. Read more

East Sussex SLC member, Linn, is being guided through Brighton train station whilst using the Aira app. The ticket barriers to the platforms are shown in the background.

AIRA app extended to 236 rail stations Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has extended the AIRA Explore guiding app to all its 236 rail stations to enhance accessibility, following its work with Sight Loss Councils (SLCs). You can now use the app for free at all Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink managed stations. Read more

Image of a closed door at a ticket office. The image shows a sign to the left of the door which reads: 'Entrance when ticket office closed.'

Sight Loss Councils welcome U-turn on ticket office closuresSight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) are calling for a national government strategy to address inaccessible rail travel, following issues raised in the ticket office closure consultation. Read more

A National Rail ticket station

Countdown to closuresRail operating companies have announced plans to close 974 ticket offices across England. A public consultation has been launched and has been extended until 1 September 2023. Take action now to stop these plans. Read more

Image shows a train platform with large windows next to an old staircase. There are three art-deco lights, hanging over the platform and signage. .

Thomas Pocklington Trust joins call on ticket officesThomas Pocklington Trust has added its voice to a letter calling on MPs to act in order to prevent ticket offices at railway stations from closing. Read more

Several people queueing up at a ticket office in a train station.

Sight loss charities urge rethink on ticket office closuresTen leading national sight loss charities have joined forces this week to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to object to proposals to close 974 railway station ticket offices across England. Read more

A series of glass fronted ticket officers interspersed with speaking grates.

Make Transport Accessible receives reply on ticket office petitionAs part of the #MakeTransportAccessible campaign, our partners at Thomas Pocklington Trust co-signed a letter with the National Federation of the Blind of the UK regarding the Governments' proposed changes to the staffing at railway stations and on train services across the UK. Read more

Image shows the Luton Rising DART shuttle train, going through a platform.

Bedfordshire Sight Loss Council inform Luton DART developmentBedfordshire Sight Loss Council has informed the development of a new Luton DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit) to help #MakeTransportAccessible. Read more

Front of Bristol Temple Meads railway station

Network Rail Communications Award for work with Sight Loss CouncilsNetwork Rail’s Wales and Western project communications team has won a national Achieving Communications Excellence award in the Putting Passengers First category for its work with Bristol Sight Loss Council. Read more

Network Rail staff and Bristol Sight Loss Council members, joined by Thomas Pocklington Trust staff, stood in a line near a platform at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. They are facing the camera and smiling.

First station in the country to launch audio guide for blind and partially sighted peopleNetwork Rail has teamed up with Bristol Sight Loss Council (BSLC) to launch a first-of-its-kind audio guide to Bristol Temple Meads station, to assist blind and partially sighted people with wayfinding. Read more

SLC’s ‘highly commended’ at National Rail AwardsSight Loss Councils are thrilled to announce we’ve been ‘highly commended’ at the National Rail Awards on Thursday, 12 September 2024. This was in recognition for our joint work with... Read more

Image shows the Luton DART train driving alongside a platform.

Bedfordshire SLC test Luton Rising Passenger Assist serviceBedfordshire Sight Loss Council visited Luton Rising to test their end-to-end end passenger assistance service. Luton Rising is currently undergoing accessibility trials of the DART ahead of their launch. Read more

Members of Bedfordshire SLC are stood with Samantha Leftwich, Engagement Manager for East England. They are stood on a platform at Stevenage train station as part of the Aira trial. They are all holding their smartphones in one hand, their long cane in the other.

SLCs trial smartphone app to improve assistance at stationsSight Loss Councils are working with Govia Thameslink Railway to trial an app that connects blind and partially sighted people to a remote advisor to improve assistance in railway stations. Read more

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