Publicly-owned train operators serving West Yorkshire are collaborating with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail on a pioneering trial designed to significantly improve the travel experience for residents holding a blind person’s travel pass.
The pass currently provides free rail travel for blind individuals on all LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Express services within the region, as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). Historically, passengers registered blind and travelling with their ENCTS pass have encountered difficulties using automated ticket gates, necessitating assistance from station staff.
Following invaluable feedback from passengers, including Kathryn Milner of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, train operators and Network Rail are now trialling a new approach that eliminates the need for blind passengers to seek help at ticket gates.
Ten participants in the trial will be issued a temporary West Yorkshire travel pass (MCard) for a three-month period. This MCard will grant them direct access through automated ticket barriers, fostering greater independence. This partnership approach directly addresses the call for people registered blind to access services in a way that respects their choices and promotes autonomy. Customers will, of course, still be able to receive support from station staff if they prefer.
The trial is set to run from Tuesday 1 July for three months at stations across the region equipped with ticket gate lines. These include major hubs such as Bradford Interchange, Bradford Forster Square, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Wakefield Westgate.
Kathryn Milner expressed her hopes for the initiative: “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.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, emphasised the importance of inclusive transport: “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, highlighted the collaborative effort: “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, operating 2,650 services daily to over 500 stations across the North of England. This trial represents a significant step towards a more accessible and independent travel experience for visually impaired passengers.
