Smartphone app will provide guidance for visually impaired customers around railway stations

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Smartphone app will provide guidance for visually impaired customers around railway stations

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A group trialling the Aira app at Sutton station. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway
A group trialling the Aira app at Sutton station. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway

A smartphone app that will improve around stations and onto trains for blind and partially sighted passengers is being rolled out by Govia Railway (GTR) to all 236 railway stations that it manages.

In collaboration with Sight Loss Councils, the app will provide free access to the innovative Aira Explorer app, at all , , and Thameslink stations to make it easier for all passengers to navigate the railway system confidently.

A customer using the Aira app  // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway
A customer using the Aira app // Credit:

The Aira Explorer app works by enabling blind and partially sighted customers to place a video call with a trained advisor who will then use the customer’s smartphone’s speaker and camera to guide them around the station.

The app was originally rolled out in a trial at 12 stations using blind and partially sighted volunteers from the region’s Sight Loss Councils and the national charity Thomas Pocklington Trust which funds them.

The Aira Explorer app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. Once downloaded to a user’s phone, the app will send a prompt with a message when they approach a station.

The app can be used for free without the usual five-minute limit as Govia Thameslink Railway is covering the cost of using it at all its managed stations as well as at Kentish Town and London Farringdon.

However, customers should be aware that data charges may apply depending on their mobile phone data plan.

A group trialling the Aira app at Brighton station. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway
A group trialling the Aira app at Brighton station. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway


The Aira Explorer app was chosen after reviewing customers’ experience with a range of other apps and assessing the feedback from their experience.

Pierre Shlimon of Sutton Vision trialling the Aira app. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway
Pierre Shlimon of Sutton Vision trialling the Aira app. // Credit: Govia Thameslink Railway

“We want everyone to be able to use our services, regardless of their disability or need for assistance.
“This app helps blind and partially sighted people travel independently, whether that’s to locate a member of staff for assistance when they first arrive at the station or to simply find the ticket office or grab a coffee.
“Having successfully trialled this, we’re now making it freely available to use at all our managed stations. We’re really grateful to Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust for helping us introduce this.”

GTR Accessibility Lead Carl Martin

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