Network Rail is celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities today (Tuesday, 3 December) by unveiling passenger usage figures for its new in-station navigation app for blind and partially sighted passengers and its pledge to make all its managed stations autism-friendly by the end of 2025.
In April this year, Network Rail launched the GoodMaps Indoor Navigation GPS app at all its managed stations — the 20 busiest in Britain. The app provides step-by-step, turn-by-turn navigation, giving blind and partially sighted passengers the means to travel independently through stations. Since its launch, it has been used over 15,000 times, averaging 2,000 uses a month, with numbers set to increase in 2025.
Network Rail is also committed to making all of its managed stations autism-friendly by the end of 2025, following London Waterloo station’s autism-friendly accreditation earlier this year. Awarded by the National Autistic Society, it represents a step towards creating more accessible spaces for neurodiverse passengers, such as quiet rooms and designated calm spaces, in an otherwise busy rail station environment.
Network Rail’s chief executive Andrew Haines said: “Making my way around a station, grabbing a coffee, or getting a bite to eat before catching a train is something I take for granted. For passengers with disabilities, including those who are blind, partially sighted and neurodiverse, it requires careful planning, which is why initiatives like the station navigation app and making our stations autism-friendly matter.
“We want to make rail travel accessible for everyone, empowering all passengers, including those with disabilities, to travel with greater autonomy. We’re not complacent; we know there’s much more to do, but we believe we are going in the right direction with the progress made so far.”
Christine Flintoft-Smith, Head of Autism Accreditation and Projects at the National Autistic Society, said: “It’s encouraging to see that Network Rail has made a commitment to make all of its managed stations autism-friendly by the end of next year. Waterloo Station has already achieved our Autism Friendly Award, so we look forward to working with the company and its staff as they continue to support autistic people.”
As part of its commitment to making stations autism-friendly, Network Rail is introducing sensory bags to enhance the customer experience for autistic customers. These bags provide tools to help individuals self-regulate and feel more comfortable in a sometimes overwhelming station environment.
In addition, British Sign Language (BSL) screens are now operational at all 20 of Network Rail’s stations, ensuring deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers can access essential travel information in real-time, as well as stoma-friendly toilets, offering safe and private spaces for those with medical needs to change their stoma bags.
To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, some Network Rail stations will be lit up in purple as a symbol of this day, celebrating the contribution of disabled people worldwide.
Image credit: Network Rail
