A free app is making it easier for travellers to confidently navigate four busy stations on the Northern Trains rail network.
They can use GoodMaps to guide them around Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Blackpool North and Meadowhall, as part of a one-year trial.
The AI-driven app is designed to assist anyone who is unfamiliar with the stations, including those with visual or hearing impairments, neurodiverse individuals and people who do not speak English as a first language.
Offering step-by-step audio guidance and a visual map that is available in a range of languages, the app is currently used by customers at most major stations in the UK as well as some tram and bus stations in Grater Manchester.
“Train stations can be busy, noisy and disorientating places,” said Mark Cutter, chair of Northern’s Accessibility User Group.
“Working with GoodMaps, Northern is making it easier to navigate these challenging spaces and reducing the barriers faced by many passengers.”
Customers can find out more about the free app and download it here https://goodmaps.com/
It comes after Northern made its website more accessible for people looking to check train times and find out the latest information about services, by installing Recite Me.
The new software allows people to change the font, text size and text colour or use a read-aloud function.
It is designed to be used by a wide range of people, including neurodivergent individuals and those with visual impairments.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
To find out more visit Northern Trains’ Accessibility Hub at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/accessibility-hub