TransPennine Express (TPE) revealed that its customers throughout the North of England can now utilise a brand new British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation service which has been designed to offer extra support for passengers travelling on the railway.

TPE will launch the new tool to mark Deaf Awareness Week with the facility offering those who are Deaf or have hearing impairment the opportunity to access enhanced information or assistance whilst on their journey.

Sign Solutions have provided the InterpretorsLive! service which gives access to a fully qualified sign language interpreter using a video link.

The interpreter will communicate for the customer and for the member of station staff in order to answer any questions such as ‘what platform is my train leaving from?’ or ‘how can I find the cheapest ticket to Leeds?’.

Passengers who would like to use the new tool should ask staff at the booking office to contact a sign language interpreter. The facility is available to use across all 16 of TPE’s staffed stations: Brough, Cleethorpes, Dewsbury, Grimsby Town, Huddersfield, Hull Paragon, Malton, Manchester Airport, Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Selby, Stalybridge, Thirsk and Thornaby.

Passengers who use BSL can also connect to a video interpreter for customer support or to arrange pre-booked assistance ahead of their travel via the TPE website, with the service open between 8am and 12am seven days a week.

Natasha Marsay, Accessibility and Inclusion Manager for TransPennine Express said:

“We are thrilled to be launching this new service for customers during Deaf Awareness Week.

“We are totally committed to making our services as inclusive and accessible as possible and this improvement will make a real difference to anyone that is Deaf or has a hearing impairment. British Sign Language, which is now recognised as an official language, is the first or preferred language for more than 87,000 Deaf people in the UK and the InterpretorsLive! service will give people access to enhanced information or assistance when travelling.”

Sophie Kang, Business Development Manager at Sign Solutions said:

“Sign Solutions are thrilled to be partnering with TPE to launch our video interpreting service InterpretersLive!. TPE is leading the way in making the rail industry accessible for British Sign Language users and enhancing passenger experience for the Deaf community.”

To find out more about the new service or to make contact with an interpreter, customers can visit: http://tpexpress.co.uk/help/accessibility/interpreterslive