Southeastern aims to encourage supportiveness in new video

Southeastern has launched a new video, with an aim to inspire passengers to be patient and understanding of those needing extra time and support whilst travelling on the network.

The emotive video was filmed at both Sevenoaks and London Bridge stations and demonstrates why it is so important to be non-judgemental and open-minded to the experience of others. The film includes a cast of actors who have both visible and non-visible accessibility requirements and was made by filmmaker Iris Gibson with a message of understanding and empathy to life.

The video is available to watch below. Southeastern has also partnered with tourist organisations to further the reach of the campaign. All versions of the video include subtitles to provide ease of viewing for all customers.

Southeastern has released the video as part of a wider initiative to support all passengers journeys and has been undertaken with advice from the train operators Accessible Travel Advisory Panel, which is headed by Paralympian Andy Barrow.

The latest improvements feature the introduction of a roving Mobile Assistance role, which means that specialist trained staff bring extra help on trains. Further improvements also include a bespoke disability awareness education program which has been created for Southeastern's 4,500 staff members and also accessibility features on the Southeastern rail app.

Throughout the summer Southeastern's app was the only app in the UK to include mobile screen reader technology and dark mode to provide improved user accessibility. The app also includes the ability to access Passenger Assist, which is a nationwide system for all train operators and lets Southeastern assist passengers with disabilities or restricted mobility. The app allows customers to set up an accessibility profile for use when booking which will make requesting assisted travel much easier.

These improvements are in addition to long-term accessibility support like Priority Seating Cards, JAM Cards (Just a Minute), and Sunflower Lanyards which are available from the Travel Support section of the Southeastern website.

Southeastern's Head of Marketing, Nikki Causer, comments: “We wanted to engage with our passengers in a memorable way on the topic of accessibility, creating a campaign that was emotive and inclusive, rather than directly telling passengers how they should behave. As more passengers return to travelling on our trains after the pandemic, it felt like the right time to launch a campaign that works on different levels, focusing on the human detail of travelling to show how just a moment can make a big difference.”

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