Network Rail is playing its part in helping to tackle period poverty and make sure people can travel with confidence.
Period poverty is when a person struggles or cannot access sanitary products because of financial constraints. As period products cost an average of £128 a year, or £10 a month, it is an issue that affects women and girls all over the world.
At Leeds station, the company has made sanitary products available to all who need them free from vending machines in the toilets.
Network Rail launched the initiative as a survey by Plan International UK found 10% of girls could not afford sanitary products.
Passengers and station users can pick up pads and tampons from new vending machines in the female and accessible toilets on the main concourse and on the platforms.
Earlier this year, the station opened a Changing Places facility, which is a toilet for people with profound and multiple disabilities and helps to make rail travel more accessible.
Maxine Joicey, Station Customer Experience Manager for Network Rail's North and East Route, said: “This new initiative, combined with other recent accessibility improvements at the station, is a huge move in the right direction. We want everyone to feel welcome at Leeds station. That's why we're providing free access to period products which we hope will allow our passengers – or anyone else in need – to travel by train or explore the city of Leeds with confidence.”
Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education at Leeds City Council, said: “Period poverty is something no one should have to experience and we welcome this initiative from Network Rail; it builds on Leeds City Council's previous work with schools to provide free sanitary products through a variety of locations and provisions, and also helps tackle the stigma around periods and period poverty.”
