Verity, North Yorkshire SLC member, pictured stepping off the train at Scarborough with support from a member of the Passenger Assistance team.
“I’ve since made independent journeys I once wouldn’t have attempted…”
Build confidence with rail travel at a free ‘Try a Train’ event in Leeds for blind & partially sighted people.
📅 11 May
👉 Book your place: https://bit.ly/47Z1VxB
#MakeTransportAccessible #TryATrain #InclusiveTravel
A hand holds up a book titled “Regenerating Railway Stations.” The cover features a photograph of a traditional brick railway‑station building with an awning, window, and small outdoor seating area. A bookmark is visible at the top of the book. The background is a plain light-coloured wall.
A hand holds open a book, showing two pages. The left-hand page includes a chapter heading titled “Access for All” and text discussing travelling on public transport. The right-hand page contains more text, including a section mentioning Sight Loss Councils, with the Sight Loss Councils logo visible in blue and green. The background is a plain light-coloured wall.
Huge congratulations to Hampshire Sight Loss Council members Kate and Peter! 🎉
Their work is featured in Regenerating Railway Stations, a new book on making stations more accessible & community-focused.
A brilliant example of lived experience driving change 👏
#MakeTransportAccessible
Liam O'Carroll, Interim EM for London SLCs, is at a TfL bus shelter, touching a red seat, marked with a circular black sign that reads: 'This is a priority seat'. Liam is holding his long cane in his other hand and wearing a white Sight Loss Councils hoodie.
Liam is pictured at the same bus shelter during the design trial. He is touching a textured metal panel on the side of the shelter. A large red TfL roundel with the word ‘Buses’ is visible on the left. The shelter has frosted glass panels, and a street with vehicles and buildings is in the background.
Volunteers from London SLCs recently visited trial bus stops in Southwark as part of a 12-month trial with Transport for London to improve safety, accessibility and comfort.
Their lived experience is helping shape more inclusive transport design across London.
#MakeTransportAccessible
Alex, Essex SLC member, and guide dog Rosie are sat in the waiting room with the exhibition artwork on the wall behind him.
Samantha Leftwich, Engagement Manager for East England, and Amy Askew, Engagement Manager for East England (Maternity Cover), standing together beneath purple Community Rail Awards and EMR bunting at the awards ceremony.
Essex Sight Loss Council's 'Do You See What I See?' exhibition with Greater Anglia is up for the Community Creative Projects & Station Arts Award tonight.
Good luck tonight - an amazing achievement regardless!
Read more about the project, here: https://bit.ly/4hCGQeh #MakeTransportAccessible
Two awards ceremonies in one day - and SLCs were part of both! 🎉
Our Vision Awareness Training for Bus Drivers, developed with @pocklington.bsky.social, has been Highly Commended at the UK Bus Awards. Huge congrats to everyone involved!
#MakeTransportAccessible #InclusiveTravel
Dave Smith, Engagement Manager for South East England, and Nikki, South West London SLC member, are stood in front of a dark blue CiTTi awards banner before the awards ceremony. Dave is wearing a tuxedo, Nikki a long black dress with leopard print scarf. Both are holding their canes and smiling at the camera.
Proud to support last nights #CiTTiAwards25 - celebrating innovators shaping the future of urban mobility.
SLC volunteer Nikki and Engagement Manager Dave judged and presented awards, ensuring accessibility is part of key transport conversations. 🎉
#MakeTransportAccessible
Antony Merlyn, Accessibility Engagement Manager, at GTR is talking to a group of attendees at a previous Try a train event on a platform at Sutton Station.
Join SE London SLC & #GoviaThameslinkRailway for a hands-on Try a Train event on Friday 5 Dec 🚆
Build confidence, explore #LondonBridge station, take a guided trip to East Croydon, and join a Q&A with staff.
Spaces are limited - book now: bit.ly/4qTIcYd
#Railway200 #MakeTransportAccessible
Four people in high-vis at Arriva bus garage, crossing a zebra crossing. Kelly is in the middle, walking with her pink cane.
Members of Arriva Bus Garage and Merseyside SLC are sat on a bus. A male staff member is wearing sim specs glasses and navigating down the aisle, whilst holding a long cane.
A great example of local collaboration driving national change! Yesterday, #Merseyside SLC worked with #ArrivaBus to help drivers understand BPS passengers' needs.
Across the UK, SLCs are building understanding and creating positive change.
Learn more: bit.ly/3zwOF5u #MakeTransportAccessible
Inside a bus, several people wearing bright orange safety vests are seated and standing. One person (pictured left) is SLC Engagement Manager Kelly Barton. She is holding a pink mobility cane near the front. SLC member Mick sits with a guide dog lying on the floor on the right. The other three people are from the bus depot. The bus interior has blue patterned seats and yellow handrails.
Three bus drivers in orange safety vests are gathered in a break room, two seated and one standing behind them with arms resting on their shoulders. A fourth person is at a table in the background. On the table in the foreground is a case containing simulation glasses, along with a cup and saucer.
A bus driver wearing an orange safety vest and simulation glasses is stepping onto a bus using a white mobility cane. Several others in orange vests are behind, and a guide dog is visible near the doorway. The bus entrance has a red floor ramp, and another bus is parked outside.
🚌 At #Runcorn, #ArrivaBus drivers learned what it’s like as a #blind or #Partiallysighted passenger using simulation glasses, canes & our lived experience. Drivers then shared ideas for more inclusive journeys. Want to increase access? Free training materials: bit.ly/3zwOF5u #MakeTransportAccessible
Promotional graphic for “Try a Train” event. A man with a white cane presses a button to open a train door with high-contrast yellow and red panels. Symbols above the windows show wheelchair and bike spaces. Text reads: “Try a Train with Lancashire Sight Loss Council, Galloways and Community Rail Lancashire. Free event for blind and partially sighted people.” Sight Loss Councils logo and date: 18 Nov 2025.
🚆 Try a Train with Lancashire Sight Loss Council, Galloways & Community Rail Lancashire
📅 18 Nov | 🕘 9:45am–3pm | 📍 Accrington Station
Build confidence travelling by train. Free event with guides & refreshments.
🔗 Book: https://bit.ly/3LeyOxW
#MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200 #Accessible Travel
Headshot of Sight Loss Council volunteer member Nikki Hughes. Nicki is smiling at the camera. She has brown shiny hair tied into a pony tail, is wearing gold earrings and a necklace, and is wearing a pretty floral blouse.
🏆 Sight Loss Councils are back judging the #CiTTiAwards - representing SLCs in transport innovation!
London SLC Volunteer Nikki is on the panel for Mobility Hub of the Year, & Engagement Manager Dave Smith is judging the Transportation Education & Advocacy category.
#MakeTransportAccessible
Quote by Carl Martin, Accessibility Lead at GTR, Sight Loss Council logo and words #Railway200 in white letters on a dark blue background. The quote says: “Working alongside blind and partially sighted people with lived experience is vital. Their expertise has been invaluable in introducing navigational apps and other initiatives to increase independent travel.”
🚆 “Working with #blind and #PartiallySighted people is vital.”
Carl Martin, #GoviaThameslinkRailway (GTR) Accessibility Lead, on how lived experience shaped rail accessibility.
We’re proud to help #MakeRailAccessible for #Railway200 💙
#MakeTransportAccessible
Learn more: http://bit.ly/48KPCGg
🚆 “Wayfinder tiles now guide you through all the bollards and obstacles. That’s a major improvement.”
Steve from #Birmingham & #BlackCountry SLC shares his rail experiences on @rnibradio.bsky.social.
🎧 Listen: http://bit.ly/47Piw7U
👏 Thanks to everyone working with us to #MakeTransportAccessible
SLC volunteer Steve who has antique blonde hair, a moustache, and a short beard on his chin. He is stood on a station platform with an Alsatian guide dog waiting for a train. A train can be in the background at the other side to the left.
🚆 On Track for Change: Steve’s Journey to Accessible Rail Travel for @railway200.bsky.social . Meet Steve from Birmingham & Black Country SLC, sharing how accessible rail features changed his travel experience. Read his story: http://bit.ly/3VpV9dG
#Railway200 #MakeTransportAccessible
📰 Sight Loss Councils are published in Rail Professional!
We're sharing stories as blind & partially sighted rail passengers as part of @railway200.bsky.social
📖 Read more: http://bit.ly/47MIKYO
#SightLossCouncils #AccessibleTravel #Railway200 #MakeTransportAccessible
Are you #blind or #PartiallySighted and feel unsure about travelling by train? Join #Merseyside SLC and Avanti West Coast on 30 Sept for 'Try a Train' at #Liverpool Lime Street!
This free event is a great chance to explore and build confidence in a supportive environment.
#MakeTransportAccessible
Four attendees are in a room with a picture of a station in the background, with two standing to the left and right while the other two attendees are sitting down, positioned more centrally. The attendee sitting to the left is wearing a visor. All attendees are looking at the camera, smiling.
Three women are in a basement room with industrial equipment. Two women stand, one with dark glasses and a cane, assisted by another in a polka dot dress. A third woman sits on a green chair. An orange safety suit hangs in the background.
A group of people sit around a conference table engaged in discussion, with papers and laptops. A man and woman stand in the background in front of a map that has 'Our Vision' at the top.
Two women wearing Sim Specs sit on green seats in front of a painted backdrop of a brick train station with a clock.
#Lancashire Sight Loss Council delivered a Vision Awareness Session with Community Rail Lancashire at Accrington Station! 🚆 Insightful lived experiences, sim-specs, and mock train scenarios highlighted travel barriers for #blind & #PartiallySighted passengers.
#MakeTransportAccessible
Photo of four women standing at a parliamentary reception. TPT trustee Hellen Mitchell far left and Marsha De Cordova MP are both holding pledge boards supporting equality of blind and partially sighted people. Cathy Low and Emma Hughes, Directors at TPT stand next to Marsha.
TPT's annual Parliamentary reception showcased key issues raised by blind and partially sighted people. Big thank you to @marshadecordova.bsky.social for hosting and to all MPs for showing support.
Join our cause to #MakeTransportAccessible #MakeStreetsAccessible #TacklePavementParking
Three people stand at the front of a seminar room with white walls and green carpet. One stands behind a plinth with microphone, another next to the plinth wearing a small lapel mic and a final person standing besides them managing questions from the audience. A yellow and black hazard tape is present, covering a cable on the floor. A PowerPoint presentation is displayed on the wall behind and to the left of the image. Behind all members is a dark blue banner with ‘RTIG Inform’ written in white writing. Further information is written below and at the bottom of the banner but cannot be clearly seen.
A table in front of a wall of windows is situated in the centre of the image. The table has a laptop in the middle at the bank of the table showing a video with a person sat on a bus. To the left is a large poster about Sight Loss Councils, to the right is a case with simulation spectacles in it. In front of this is a variety of leaflets, information and transport related resources. White and aqua blue pens next to meetings are visible in front of the laptop. Next to the laptop is a set of folded white canes, including a long cane, guide van and two symbol canes.
Engagement Manager Sam joined TPT's Campaigns Coordinator Martha at the 'Real Time Information Group' event, representing SLCs and @pocklington.bsky.social. They discussed #RealTimeInformation for BPS passengers and improvements to #MakeTransportAccessible.
A group shot of 17 people of varying ages, genders, and ethnicities standing together at Wimbledon station. Five people are holding their long canes. Some people are carrying rucksacks, handbags, and coffee cups. Antony Merlyn stands at the front of the group in the middle, smiling at the camera. He is smartly dressed in a navy suit and tie, is holding a notebook, and carrying a rucksack.
🚆 Excited for South West London Sight Loss Council's 'Try a Train' event at Wimbledon Station with GTR today! Helping #blind & #PartiallySighted people travel independently. 🌟 #MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200 #VisionForChange
Learn more: https://bit.ly/3SUUjo5
A group of seven people of mixed ages, genders and ethnicities. Some are holding white canes and there is one person with a black Labrador guide dog. The group is standing in front of a red sign that reads, 'South Fylde Line' at a train station. There is an Amazon locker to the left and trees in the background.
Try a Train attendee getting off a train using a ramp, assisted by a sighted guide
A group of five people are seated around a metal table outside a brick building with a sign that reads 'Hey Treat.' The people are engaged in conversation and appear to be enjoying their time together. In the foreground, there is a black guide dog wearing a yellow harness standing on the pavement next to an orange water bowl.
Blind & partially sighted people across Lancashire joined Sight Loss Councils & Community Rail Lancashire for a Try a Train day—part of #Railway200! From Preston to Lytham, they gained confidence navigating stations & trains: https://bit.ly/4kGribO 💪☕ #TryATrain #MakeTransportAccessible
White infographic. In the centre, bold black text reads, "Wimbledon Try a Train." Below, in lighter text “These events help people build confidence navigating stations, meeting staff, and experiencing a live train journey. Small groups ensure everyone gets the attention and reassurance needed to travel independently.” Nicki Guy, Senior Engagement Manager”. In the left corner, there is a circular headshot of Nicki. The top right corner features light blue dots with the SLC logo in the corner.
Travelling by rail can seem daunting if you’re #blind or #PartiallySighted, but it doesn’t have to be. Join #SouthWest London SLC’s ‘Try a Train’ on Thurs 19 June, 10.15am – 1.15pm with Govia Thameslink Railway: https://bit.ly/4jHNvVS!
#MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200
🚌 This training, shaped by real-life experiences, empowers drivers to better support #blind & #PartiallySighted passengers. Practical steps include stopping properly, announcing destinations, and guiding passengers safely.
#MakeTransportAccessible #AccessibleTransport #Inclusion
🚍 Vision Awareness Training for Bus & Coach Drivers rolls out nationwide! Developed by @pocklington.bsky.social, DVSA, @cpt-uk.bsky.social, @brightonhovebuses.bsky.social and @bususersuk.bsky.social.
Learn more: bit.ly/4e9EYcX
#MakeTransportAccessible #AllAboard
White infographic. In the centre, bold black text reads, "Wimbledon Try a Train." Below, in lighter text, "Events like this are not only informative but often life-changing for disabled people who wish to feel empowered and reassured while navigating public transport." - Carl Martin, Accessibility Lead at Govia Thameslink Railway." In the left corner, there is a circular photo of Carl. The top right corner features light blue dots representing SLCs, with the SLC logo in the bottom right corner.
Have you booked your place for #SouthWest #London Sight Loss Council’s ‘Try a Train’? Join us on Thursday, 19 June for an accessible journey from Wimbledon to Sutton! 🚆 Book now: https://bit.ly/4jHNvVS #MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200 #VisionForChange
Group photo of ten people and two guide dogs. They are all smartly dressed, four of them are holding long canes, and they are all wearing a medal. The two guide dogs are to the right, one is an Alsatian and one is a Labrador.
#VolunteersWeek - Well done to all SLCs working together to win the 'Campaign of the Year' #RPAward, sponsored by @fightblindness.bsky.social, for their work to #MakeTransportAccessible by co-producing 'Vision Impairment Awareness for Bus Drivers' training.
Promotional infographic with a bright green background. To the left there is a circular shaped photo showing six people standing on a railway platform holding smart phones and white canes. To the right, white bold text reads, 'Are you blind or partially sighted and want to feel more confident using the rail network? Join us for a Coffee & Chat with Govia Thameslink Railway - Luton Airport Parkway Station, Wednesday, 28 May.' The SLC logo appears in the bottom right corner.'
Luton Airport Parkway Station ‘Coffee and Chat’
Join Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire SLC on 28 May to empower local #blind and #PartiallySighted people to travel confidently. Learn about accessible rail travel and new audio guides. Book now: https://bit.ly/44JCY8J
#MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200
A group of 12 people, including SLC volunteers and staff, standing outside a modern building with tall glass windows. The group consists of men and women of varying ages and ethnicities. Some people are holding white canes, as well as suitcases and backpacks.
A group of 14 people, including SLC volunteers and staff, standing outside a modern building with tall glass windows. The group consists of men and women of varying ages and ethnicities, and a guide dog. Some people are holding white canes, as well as suitcases and backpacks.
A group of 16 people, including SLC volunteers and staff, standing outside a modern building with tall glass windows. The group consists of men and women of varying ages and ethnicities, and a guide dog. Some people are holding white canes, as well as suitcases and backpacks.
Big thanks to Patrick Power & the Network Rail team for supporting our 2025 #SLConference! 👏 Their work with SLCs helped over 100 #blind & #PartiallySighted delegates transfer smoothly via #Birmingham New Street Station. 🚉 Together we’re working to #MakeTransportAccessible. 🙌
The picture shows a group of individuals sitting on benches listening inside a waiting area. The area is enclosed by large windows and has a modern, functional design. The individuals are casually dressed, suggesting a relaxed atmosphere. There is a person standing in front of them, speaking to the group and providing information. The overall scene appears to be a waiting area, at a transport hub, Stevenage Railway station. A banner with ‘Sight Loss Councils’, an image of a young female wearing glasses and a slogan ‘Join us to influence Change’ is behind them in the corner.
The image depicts a group of people standing in a station waiting room. The man on the left is wearing glasses and a suit. He is holding a book in his right hand. The woman in the middle is wearing a cream shirt and black and white smart trousers, standing with one arm on her side. In the open doorway are two members of train station staff, one male and the other female. They are both wearing dark blue uniform with hi-vis orange jackets. The man on the right is wearing a suit and is holding a cup in his right hand. The station waiting room has glass windows and doors with grey coloured tiled floor. A banner with ‘Sight Loss Councils’, an image of a young female wearing glasses and a slogan ‘Join us to influence Change’ is behind them in the corner. They are all listening to the person speaking.
Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire @slcouncils.bsky.socials held a 2nd Coffee & event at Stevenage station to preview our new accessibility resources. Joined by local BPS people & staff from GTR, lots of great discussions were had. Resources will launch soon. #MakeTransportAccessible #Trains #Stevenage
Mary Cox, South West London SLC member disembarking the train via a ramp with her guide dog. A male member of staff standing on the left of the platform by the train door.
Join #SouthWest London Sight Loss Council & #ThameslinkRailway at Sutton Station on 22 May 2025, 10.30am-1.15pm for 'Try a Train'. Explore accessible train travel, take a guided trip to Wimbledon, and join a Q&A. Book now! https://bit.ly/3GJlrU9 #Railway200 #MakeTransportAccessible #Railway200
