South Eastern Trains
In addition to investing £500m in new trains South Eastern Trains has a £1.5 million programme to make its stations easier to use. This will include dropped kerbs, extra ramps, 23-lowered ticket counters and 15 refurbished or new accessible toilets.
With the adjustments they benefit not just disabled people but everyone. With the antislip boards fitted on stairs, it has been the first concerted attempt to alleviate the amount of slips trips and falls, which occur, on stairs.
Clearer signage has been easier for people to see what is where, with the pictograms assisting those that cannot read or perhaps cannot speak English.
Handrails and barriers have again been noticed and appreciated by customers - it was surprising to discover how many steps and ramps did not have handrails on them.
It was also surprising to discover how many of our hearing loops were not working when surveyed, but they are now regularly tested by local managers with specialist equipment.
The best feedback has come from both Access groups and local councils at presentations that have been made to them. They have been very pleased with the progress that has been made and acknowledge that although SET still have a long way to go, we have made significant progress.