A £250,000 Accessibility Innovation Fund has allowed Northern to give the go-ahead to six game-changing projects that will enable communities to make decisions around improving the railway for everyone.

The fund is now in its second year, and the latest projects include using AI to interpret customer announcements into British Sign Language, a scheme to encourage older people to have days out on the train, and a hub where wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be rented out.

The successful projects were chosen by the independent Northern Accessibility User Group (NAUG) and supported by Northern. The NAUG is a pan-disability user group whose members both represent a wide range of disabilities on a personal basis and from the perspective of disability groups and organisations that reflect the communities served by Northern.

The successful bids were:

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, to create an Accessibility Hub at the Meadowhall Transport interchange. Together with TransPennine Express, mobility scooters and wheelchairs will be loaned out to encourage older and disabled customers to use rail travel to get to Meadowhall, and make it easier for customers to get around the shopping centre.
• The Signapse project is a trial at Manchester Victoria station using AI technology to offer British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation of customer information announcements. Judges praised the trial’s location, the potential to improve communication for the deaf community, and the project’s innovative and interesting approach.
• The Cumbrian Coast Line Community Rail Partnership will create user-friendly display panels and leaflets to promote active and accessible travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line. Judges praised the combination of new technology and traditional leaflets, as they will benefit older and disabled people who may struggle with digital signage.
• Community Rail Lancashire’s Adventures for All project is a programme of engagement for autistic passengers. It will include interactive and accessible activities designed to encourage rail confidence and connect with people and places along the Autism Friendly Line. Judges praised the bid’s well-researched approach, its self-led engagement, and value for money.
• Community Rail Cumbria‘s Soulful Days Out is an initiative that focuses on engaging older communities, such as Age UK, to take days out by train. Judges praised the outreach and engagement efforts, and its potential to encourage people to use trains who wouldn’t normally travel independently.
• Chrome Angel Solutions’ Accessible Travel VR Simulation will expand an existing VR simulation game so that it can be used for staff training. New staff characters will be developed, enabling staff to gain practice in providing good assistance to customers who need it. Judges praised the project’s potential to help staff improve their customer service skills when handling challenging situations.

At the recent Rail Business Awards, Northern won the Customer Service Excellence award for its development of ‘The Accessible Travel Simulation’ app which is designed to support people who are anxious or need to build confidence to travel by train.

Mark Powles, Northern’s commercial and customer director, said: “Our customers are the heart of everything we do, and we are dedicated to making Northern’s services accessible to everyone, and to having a positive impact for the north.

“I am happy to announce that six bids have been successful, and I would like to thank everyone who got in touch with us with their ideas.

“The fund is part of our wider project to transform our network and encourage people to use public transport – no matter their circumstances.”

Mark Wilson, chair of NAUG, said: “The fund has again produced a wide range of ideas aimed at improving accessibility of rail travel across the Northerns network and our user group panel was faced with a very tough job to decide the winners.

“What has been so impressive is the enthusiasm and commitment around schemes that help encourage older and disabled people to try the train for the first time, or to return to rail travel. When added to an inspiring focus on supporting those with less visible and sensory disabilities, we have a cracking set of awards that will continue to build passenger confidence.”