The Department for Transport has revealed how train operators in public ownership are improving the accessibility of their services.

The government published its Accessibility Roadmap last week, shortly after tabling the Railways Bill in Parliament.

The Roadmap sets out a long-term plan to make the railway more accessible.

Seven train operating companies have been brought into public ownership so far, and during this year, they have taken a range of measures to reduce barriers to rail travel for disabled people.

c2c has implemented digital wayfinding in all its stations, working in partnership with GoodMaps.

The system uses advanced LiDAR scanning and computer vision to provide very accurate 3D maps, which can be accessed through the GoodMaps Explore app and c2c’s website.

Features of the digital wayfinding service include turn-by-turn audio, visual and haptic guidance, real-time lift and escalator updates, multilingual support and step-free route options.

Together, these aim to help passengers find their way around stations confidently without having to ask staff for help.

Greater Anglia has made it quicker and easier to buy tickets and book assistance at the same time, by introducing Passenger Assist booking capability into retail channels.

The operator has also worked to raise awareness of sight loss, including through displays at stations, and has trained all its conductors on delivering sighted guidance.

The operator has installed a new Welcome Point at Norwich station and two new Changing Places toilet facilities at Audley End and Great Yarmouth stations.

It has also introduced Convo, which enables deaf passengers to contact customer relations agents via a British Sign Language interpreter.

Responding to feedback from its Accessibility Forum, LNER has installed new signage in wheelchair spaces and on priority seats on board its fleet of Azuma trains.

The aim of the signage is to protect wheelchair spaces from being taken over by luggage. The use of Braille will help blind people to find priority seats without assistance.

Northern has also made priority seating clearer on board its trains.

In addition, it has introduced a new Assisted Travel Support Team, issued accessible toilet keys to frontline staff and made Daisy Hill station in Greater Manchester accessible without steps.

The operator has also installed passenger assistance points at forty of its stations, and has made eight more stations accessible to mobility scooters.

Northern has also launched a navigation app for easier wayfinding around its stations, and has expanded Welcome Points across the network.

Southeastern has spent more than £9 million on upgrading its station, including accessibility measures such as major lift improvements.

It has also delivered accessibility schemes at Shortlands and Herne Bay.

The Department for Transport’s Access for All programme is funding improvements at Hither Green station, which will create step-free access across all six os the station’s platforms by Autumn 2027.

Southeastern has also introduced 3D station maps, and is running trials of Welcome Points and investigating deploying innovative technology to support level boarding in future.

South Western Railway has introduced a ‘Paws for Thought’ initiative, aimed at raising awareness of the important role that assistance dogs play in supporting disabled passengers.

TransPennine Express has installed an accessible toilet pod at Brough station in East Yorkshire and improved access at six other stations.

It has also installed enhanced British Sign Language screens at Manchester Airport station, as well as adapting station toilets to be accessible to people with a stoma.

“Everyone, everywhere deserves a railway that works for them. Making our network truly accessible is the collective mission of all train operators in public ownership.

“The government’s Accessibility Roadmap rightly highlights many of the changes, like improving the digital journey for people with visual impairments and driving key infrastructure upgrades, that are being trailblazed through common ownership. A lot has been done, but we know we can do better.

“Together, publicly owned operators will collaborate and innovate to chart the path outlined in the Government’s roadmap, as we continue the journey to Great British Railways.”

Andrew McClements, customer experience and transformation director at TransPennine Express