Bristol Temple Meads launches audio guide for blind and partially sighted people

Credit: Network Rail

Navigating Bristol Temple Meads for blind and partially sighted people has become more challenging since the start of Network Rail’s work to renovate the station’s historic train shed roof. Scaffolding towers have been erected in parts of the station and some areas have become one way only or temporarily closed for access.

Improving accessibility

To ensure Bristol Temple Meads remains as accessible as possible for all passengers, Network Rail has worked with BSLC to create an audio guide of the station. It’s the first time that such a tool has been made available at any Network Rail managed station.

The guide comprises 12 audio files, housed on a dedicated page on the Network Rail website and easily accessible from any personal device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Each file will guide the listener safely through a section of the station, making it far easier to navigate for blind and partially sighted people.

Network Rail’s aspiration is to continue working closely with BSLC and users of the audio guide to further improve this technology and ultimately roll out these kinds of guides more widely in other stations across the country.

Reactions to the new audio guide

“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done with Bristol Sight Loss Council to launch this audio guide, which will help to ensure that our station remains as accessible as possible for all passengers, especially during the roof works,” Bernadette Sachse, Network Rail’s Station Manager for Bristol Temple Meads, said. “We want everyone to feel welcome at our stations and are constantly looking to improve accessibility for people who experience disability. Alongside the audio guide, all our station signage has been designed in high contrast so that it can be more easily read. We installed tactile paving on our platforms to improve safety and have ensured that Bristol Temple Meads can be easily navigated by those using a wheelchair. It’s been fantastic to work with the Sight Loss Council, who have tested the audio guide to make sure that it’s as user friendly as possible. I hope that this useful tool allows people to feel more confident in using our railway.”

“Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted members, work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of services,” Emma Hughes, Director of Services at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said. “We are proud of Bristol Sight Loss Council’s work with Bristol Temple Meads station to launch this first of its kind audio guide to help blind and partially sighted people to navigate the station. Everyone should be able to rely on accessible public transport and be able to travel independently and safely. We want to ensure all forms of transport are fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people across the country, enabling everyone to live the lives they want to lead in an independent way.”

“We are delighted to support the introduction of these audio guides at Bristol Temple Meads to assist customers who are visually impaired,” Coral Thomas, Accessibility Mentor for GWR, said. “GWR is passionate about making its trains and stations accessible to all. Bristol Temple Meads is undergoing some major refurbishments and anything that can be done to assist customers as they make their way through the station is a real positive.”