Access for All – an improved passenger experience

In response to the UK government’s “Access for All” (AfA) initiative, many Train Operators have been embarking on projects to make their station facilities more accessible to all passengers, including those with disabilities, limited mobility, and other needs. AfA projects aim to improve accessibility by introducing new lifts, ramps, footbridges and accessible step-free wayfinding routes.

A key part of this upgrade is the design, fabrication, and installation of signage across the station, ensuring that all users can navigate easily and safely. Over the course of the last four years Transport Signs have completed the signage schemes for an AfA project at the average rate of one per month. Wayfinding signage is needed to support these AfA upgrades by clearly guiding passengers with disabilities, elderly passengers, families with prams, and non-English speakers.

Our Senior Project Manager, Virginio Celotto, heads up our Access for All Team who liaise with Train Operators, Designers and Main Contractors on their specific projects and help them deliver signage solutions on time and to budget.

Site:


UK Wide

Train operator:


Southwest Railway, Southern Railway, GTR, Southeastern, Great Western Railway, Thameslink, TransPenn

Main contractor:


Octavius, BAM Nuttall, AMCO Giffen, Story, VolkerFitzpatrick, Balfour Beatty

How we delivered:

Key areas we consider for each AfA

  1. Compliance with Legislation – We ensure that all signage meets UK accessibility and safety regulations.
  2. User-Centered Design – we incorporate features like handrail braille & tactile signage, large fonts where applicable, and wall-mounted braille and tactile signage for visually impaired passengers, as well as, symbols for non-verbal communication.
  3. Durability – we ensuring that materials are weather-resistant and low-maintenance, suitable for the outdoor and high-traffic areas of the station and that they meet with the train operators and architectural specifications.
  4. Aesthetic Integration – we design in alignment with the station’s historical architecture and Train Operator branding, while incorporating modern accessibility elements.

 

Design Phase:

The design process begins with a detailed survey of the station, focusing on key touchpoints such as entrances, platforms, ticket offices, lifts, stairs, waiting areas, and toilets. If at the very front-end of a project Virginio and his team will complete the wayfinding planning for the scheme off plans of the development.

Directional wayfinding signage with step free routes to lifts, platforms, toilets and ticket machines is prioritised. Clear wayfinding and inclusivity will make the station more user-friendly and welcoming.

The team assemble signage schedules detailing the wayfinding content for each sign and its position within the station. We also plan all of the statutory signage required.

It’s always important to consider how the new bridge and lifts will affect passenger movement in the existing station and therefore our survey and planning will include the updates to the existing station wayfinding required to allow the new access for all construction to be integrated into the station.

We assist our clients by helping to progress the signage schedules though the stakeholder approval process. Signage is always designed to meet the train operators branding requirements and signage construction specifications too.

Product drawings are also prepared showing the fabrication and integration detail for each of the signs.

 

Fabrication

Following approval of the signage schedule Virginio will then progress the signage product to fabrication.

Signage is always fabricated to meet with the Train Operators branding guidelines as well as their architectural specifications for the product.

The rail environment is unforgiving and ensuring that the signage is robust and will last is key to ensuring that delivered signing solutions look good for many years.

Some stations are listed heritage buildings and required careful mounting of signs to avoid damage to its structural integrity. Brackets and supports are bespoke and fabricated to meet these requirements.

 

Installation

Virginio and his team always need to carefully programme the installation of the signage to coordinate with contractors working on the overall delivery of the project.

This required detailed scheduling and on-site adjustments ensures seamless integration.

Following fabrication quality check our installation teams will attend site and complete the install of the product to the new Access for All scheme.

Our Project Management team write and submit Work Package Plans, Method Statements, Risk Assessments and Task Briefings as required by the project team.




Results:

AfA projects highlight the importance of thoughtful, inclusive design when upgrading transport infrastructure. Successfully delivered wayfinding signage installation at AfA schemes showcases how accessible signage can enhance the travel experience for all passengers, while also meeting stringent legislative and aesthetic requirements.

We’re very proud to play our part in making the rail network of the uk more accessible to more passengers and like to think of ourselves as amongst the leading companies in the UK delivering these solutions into the sector.