Dave Smith sits on Thameslink’s accessibility advisory panel to help it improve services for disabled people

Dave Smith (left) has helped write an audio guide to these Thameslink trains

Thameslink has released an audio guide that describes its fleet of 115 trains – written with the help of one of its blind passengers.

Dave Smith sits on Thameslink’s accessibility advisory panel to help it improve services for disabled people.

He said: “I use these trains all the time but for someone else who is blind or partially sighted it can be incredibly daunting. When you can’t see, it’s difficult to understand your environment and what’s around you.

“Anyone can log onto the Thameslink website and listen to this audio guide before setting off, helping them understand the train layout before they travel, helping reduce any anxieties.

“It describes such things as where they might find a toilet – and its layout – and where and how to contact the driver in an emergency. The guide gives them access to information that sighted travellers take for granted.”

The guide is available on the assisted travel pages of the company’s website:
Visit thameslinkrailway.com

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