New app revolutionises accessibility for blind and partially sighted rail passengers on Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is extending the free use of a groundbreaking smartphone app, designed to enhance accessibility for blind and partially sighted passengers, to all 236 of its Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink-managed stations (see list below).

Starting on 17 October, in collaboration with Sight Loss Councils, GTR will offer free access to the innovative Aira Explorer guidance app across all of its 11 county network - which is almost the size of Belgium. This initiative is a major step towards creating an inclusive travel experience, empowering all passengers to navigate the rail system with confidence.

The Aira Explorer app allows blind and partially sighted customers to place a video call with a trained advisor who looks through the customer's smartphone camera to guide them around the station on speakerphone, simplifying the journey.

Up until now, the app has been available to use at only 12 stations (see former press release) as part of a trial spearheaded by blind and partially sighted volunteers from the regions Sight Loss Councils and national charity Thomas Pocklington Trust, which funds them.

GTR Accessibility Lead Carl Martin said: “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.”

Dave Smith, Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager for Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “It’s great that GTR have made the decision to roll out Aira Explorer at all their stations. It is important that everyone has access to travel on the train network and this includes blind and partially sighted people.

“Having Aira Explorer available could be enough to give someone the confidence to take the train knowing that they can arrive at a station and use Aira to support them through the station and to a member of staff.

“Furthermore, the app can be used to navigate someone to a coffee or retail shop, the toilet or out to the bus stop for an onward journey thus making the whole experience more equal to sighted passengers”.

Passengers are urged to download Aira Explorer from the Apple Store or Google Play on their mobile device. See editors’ notes for more details.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Aira Explorer app should make the railway even more accessible than it already is and could potentially open more doors for more people, promoting independent travel.

GTR selected Aira after reviewing a range of different apps and seeking feedback from customers with lived experience.

Anyone with the app downloaded to their phone will be prompted with a message on approaching the station that they can use it for free* and without the usual five-minute limit. The passenger then simply taps a button to connect with an agent who looks through their camera and guides them on speakerphone.

*GTR is covering the cost of using the Aira app for passengers at its 236 managed stations as well as Kentish Town and London Farringdon but data charges may apply depending on the customer’s mobile phone data plan.

For passengers without smartphones, there are a wide range of other options available to gain assistance to use the railway. Visit the dedicated assistance pages at Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern’s websites.

The stations covered

ALDRINGTON

ALEXANDRA PALACE

AMBERLEY

ANGMERING

APPLEDORE (KENT)

ARLESEY

ARUNDEL

ASHTEAD

ASHURST (KENT)

ASHWELL & MORDEN

BALCOMBE

BALDOCK

BALHAM

BANSTEAD

BARNHAM

BATTERSEA PARK

BAYFORD

BECKENHAM HILL

BEDFORD

BELLINGHAM

BELMONT

BERWICK (Sussex)

BEXHILL

BIGGLESWADE

BILLINGSHURST

BIRKBECK

BISHOPSTONE (SUSSEX)

BOGNOR REGIS

BOSHAM

BOWES PARK

BOXHILL & WESTHUMBLE

BRENT CROSS WEST

BRIGHTON (EAST SUSSEX)

BROOKMANS PARK

BURGESS HILL

BUXTED

CARSHALTON

CARSHALTON BEECHES

CATERHAM

CATFORD

CHEAM

CHICHESTER

CHIPSTEAD

CHRISTS HOSPITAL

CITY THAMESLINK

COLLINGTON

COODEN BEACH

COOKSBRIDGE

COULSDON SOUTH

COULSDON TOWN

COWDEN

CRAWLEY

CREWS HILL

CRICKLEWOOD

CROFTON PARK

CROWBOROUGH

CUFFLEY

DENMARK HILL

DOLEHAM

DORKING (MAIN)

DORMANS

DOWNHAM MARKET

DRAYTON PARK

DURRINGTON-ON-SEA

EARLSWOOD (SURREY)

EAST CROYDON

EAST DULWICH

EAST GRINSTEAD

EAST WORTHING

EASTBOURNE

EDENBRIDGE

EDENBRIDGE TOWN

ELEPHANT & CASTLE

ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD

EMSWORTH

ENFIELD CHASE

EPSOM (SURREY)

EPSOM DOWNS

ERIDGE

ESSEX ROAD

EWELL EAST

FALMER

FARRINGDON*

FAYGATE

FINSBURY PARK

FISHBOURNE (SUSSEX)

FISHERSGATE

FLITWICK

FORD

FOXTON

GATWICK AIRPORT

GIPSY HILL

GLYNDE

GODSTONE

GORDON HILL

GORING-BY-SEA

GRANGE PARK

HACKBRIDGE

HADLEY WOOD

HAM STREET

HAMPDEN PARK (SUSSEX)

HARLINGTON (BEDS)

HARPENDEN

HARRINGAY

HASSOCKS

HATFIELD (HERTS)

HAYDONS ROAD

HAYWARDS HEATH

HENDON

HERTFORD NORTH

HEVER

HITCHIN

HOLMWOOD

HORLEY

HORNSEY

HORSHAM

HOVE

HUNTINGDON

HURST GREEN

IFIELD

KENLEY

KENTISH TOWN*

KINGS LYNN

KINGSWOOD

KNEBWORTH

LANCING

LEAGRAVE

LEATHERHEAD

LEIGH (KENT)

LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY

LEWES

LINGFIELD

LITTLEHAMPTON

LITTLEHAVEN

LITTLEPORT

LONDON BLACKFRIARS

LONDON ROAD (BRIGHTON)

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION

LUTON

LUTON AIRPORT PARKWAY

MELDRETH

MERSTHAM

MILL HILL BROADWAY

MITCHAM EASTFIELDS

MITCHAM JUNCTION

MORDEN SOUTH

MOULSECOOMB

NEW BARNET

NEW SOUTHGATE

NEWHAVEN HARBOUR

NEWHAVEN TOWN

NORBURY

NORMANS BAY

NORTH DULWICH

NUNHEAD

NUTBOURNE

NUTFIELD

OAKLEIGH PARK

OCKLEY

ORE

OXTED

PALMERS GREEN

PECKHAM RYE

PENSHURST

PEVENSEY & WESTHAM

PEVENSEY BAY

PLUMPTON

POLEGATE

PORTSLADE

POTTERS BAR

PRESTON PARK

PULBOROUGH

PURLEY

PURLEY OAKS

QUEENS ROAD (PECKHAM)

RADLETT

RAVENSBOURNE

REDHILL

REEDHAM (SURREY)

REIGATE

RIDDLESDOWN

ROYSTON

RYE (SUSSEX)

SALFORDS (SURREY)

SANDERSTEAD

SANDY

SEAFORD (SUSSEX)

SELHURST

SHEPRETH

SHOREHAM-BY-SEA

SOUTH BERMONDSEY

SOUTH CROYDON

SOUTH MERTON

SOUTHBOURNE

SOUTHEASE

SOUTHWICK

ST ALBANS CITY

ST HELIER

ST NEOTS

STEVENAGE

STREATHAM (GREATER LONDON)

STREATHAM COMMON

STREATHAM HILL

SUTTON (SURREY)

SUTTON COMMON

TADWORTH

TATTENHAM CORNER

THORNTON HEATH

THREE BRIDGES

THREE OAKS

TOOTING

TULSE HILL

UCKFIELD

UPPER WARLINGHAM

WADDON

WALLINGTON

WANDSWORTH COMMON

WARBLINGTON

WARNHAM

WATERBEACH

WATLINGTON

WATTON-AT-STONE

WELHAM GREEN

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

WELWYN NORTH

WEST HAMPSTEAD THAMESLINK

WEST NORWOOD

WEST SUTTON

WEST WORTHING

WHYTELEAFE

WHYTELEAFE SOUTH

WIMBLEDON CHASE

WINCHELSEA

WINCHMORE HILL

WIVELSFIELD

WOLDINGHAM

WOODMANSTERNE

WORTHING

*Not managed by GTR but with GTR-managed platforms

About Sight Loss Councils
Sight Loss Councils (SLC), funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust and led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, advocate the needs of blind and partially sighted people, and influence positive change.

There are over 20 SLCs across the country. Each SLC is made up of blind and partially sighted members who meet monthly to discuss accessibility issues and plan projects.

Their priorities include accessible transport and safe streets so everyone can travel independently and safely. They also work to increase the accessibility of health and fitness, shopping, and museums and galleries, depending on local area need.

To find out more visit: www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk