Publicly-owned train operators serving West Yorkshire are working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail on a trial to improve the travel experience for residents who have a blind person’s travel pass.
The pass provides free rail travel for blind people on all LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express services in the region, as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).
Until now, passengers who are registered blind and travelling with their ENCTS pass have been unable to use automated ticket gates and were instead directed to station staff for assistance.
Following feedback from passengers, including Kathryn Milner, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, train operators and Network Rail are now trialing a new approach that does not involve blind passengers having to seek help at ticket gates.
Ten participants will be issued a temporary West Yorkshire travel pass (MCard) for a three-month period, which will grant access through the automated ticket barriers.
This partnership approach recognises the call for people registered blind to access services in a way that reflects their choices and independence.
Customers can also continue to be supported by station staff.
The trial will run from Tuesday 1 July for three months at stations in the region that have ticket gate lines, which include Bradford Interchange, Bradford Forster Square, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield Westgate.
Kathryn Milner said: “My independence is really important to me and as someone who regularly travels by train I want to be able to get about without being hindered by a process that I know doesn’t apply to me – just because I’m visually impaired. I’m glad I raised my experience with Northern and grateful to them for their efforts to bring about this trial, which I hope will bring about a permanent change.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “We must ensure that public transport is inclusive and accessible for everyone that uses it. Passengers with sight loss in West Yorkshire have been able to shape this important trial, empowering them to travel more independently. I’m proud that we’re playing a part in this initiative as we build a better-connected region that works for all.”
Tricia Williams, managing director of Northern, said: “We’re grateful to Kathryn for sharing her experience and working with us to get this trial up and running. Passenger assistance is a very important service, but one size doesn’t fit all. Each person’s requirements will be different and those who wish to travel independently must be allowed to do so.
“I’m very proud of the way we have been able to roll the trial out so easily across other train operators and Network Rail. It is a great example of collaboration across the publicly-owned group.”
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.