#MakeTrainsAccessible

All public transport providers have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make their services accessible. Despite that, the standard of accessibility on public transport isn’t high enough to allow independent travel. We are here to change this.

Our #MakeTransportAccessible campaign aim to ensure blind and partially sighted people can rely on accessible public transport to travel independently and safely, and live the lives they want to live.

To create this change, we work with transport operators, local authorities, the media, central government, ministers and MPs. This includes our joint call with Thomas Pocklington Trust for an urgent national government strategy to tackle accessibility issues raised in the recent ticket office consultation.

We prioritise our work starting where the journey begins – at the train station.

“It is so important to make transport accessible for our blind and partially sighted community as we are heavily reliant on public transport for our daily life and to access social and work opportunities. Making transport accessible enables us to be more confident, safe, active and independent.”

Sight Loss Council member, Vidya

Sight Loss Council and Young Voices volunteers, and Thomas Pocklington staff, are sat on a bus creating some of the videos used in the training materials. Two passengers have white canes with them and there is a guide dog sat at the front.Launch of free approved bus and coach driver training materialsThomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and its network of volunteer-led UK Sight Loss Councils have launched approved training materials to inform bus and coach drivers of how best to support blind or partially sighted (BPS) passengers. The ‘Vision Impairment Awareness for Bus Drivers’ training materials are free to all bus operators and trainers.  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 stationCountdown 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 stationNetwork 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
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
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