EMR invests £100,000 in station toilets to benefit blind and partially sighted customers

East Midlands Railway (EMR), operated by Transport UK, is investing around £100,000 to upgrade toilet facilities at five of its stations. The work will benefit blind and partially sighted customers, as well as those with other accessibility needs.

The refurbishments at Sleaford, Spalding, Beeston, Newark Castle and Kettering form part of a wider programme of station improvements. Work is expected to be completed later this winter.

At the heart of the programme is RoomMate, an audio technology system which gives blind and partially sighted visitors a spoken description of an accessible toilet. This helps them build a mental picture of the space and navigate it with greater confidence. The system is designed specifically to support people who may not be able to see the layout, fixtures and facilities within the room.

EMR chose to install the technology after working with a member of its local Sight Loss Council. These regional groups are led by blind and partially sighted volunteers who use their lived experience to shape inclusive services and make accessibility a priority in their local communities.

The wall-mounted device activates when someone enters the room. It announces that an audio description is available and provides simple instructions on how to activate it with a wave of the hand.

The audio guide begins with an overview of the room, then repeats the information in a sequence designed to guide the user around the space.

After its first announcement, the unit gives four audible pings so users can locate it. The volume can be adjusted to suit background noise and the system can be reprogrammed on site if the layout or features of a facility change in the future.

At Spalding, Sleaford, Beeston and Newark Castle, the universal toilets, which serve both general and accessible users, will be refurbished. At Kettering, the accessible toilet and separate baby change space will both be refurbished, with the reconfigured baby change facility also serving as a private space for nursing mothers.

All refurbished facilities will also follow Stoma Friendly Toilet guidelines issued by Colostomy UK, supporting passengers with additional accessibility requirements.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “We’re investing around £100,000 to improve toilet facilities at five of our stations, making them more welcoming, accessible and comfortable for the thousands of customers who use them every day.

“These improvements are about much more than refurbishing the facilities themselves. We want our stations to work better for everyone, and that means thinking carefully about the different needs of our customers and how we can remove barriers to travel.

“Accessibility is an important part of this investment. The introduction of RoomMate technology will give blind and partially sighted customers greater independence and confidence when using accessible toilet facilities, providing an audio description of the space and helping them navigate it more easily.”

Matt Harrison, Engagement Manager for the East Midlands at the Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “The installation of RoomMate in toilets at several EMR stations across the region is an incredibly positive step towards making the rail network more accessible to blind and partially sighted customers.

“Most people probably take for granted using unfamiliar facilities, but this can be a real challenge for those who are blind or partially sighted. Having RoomMate describe a room’s layout provides that extra layer of information and helps encourage independent travel, especially when using unstaffed stations.

“Our two local Sight Loss Councils have built up an incredibly strong and proactive relationship with EMR. This is another great example of how collaboration, and listening to people with lived experience of sight loss, can increase the accessibility of the rail network for blind and partially sighted passengers.”

Sarah White, Managing Director at easyAccessibility, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with East Midlands Railway to make rail travel more accessible, inclusive and empowering for blind and partially sighted passengers.

“Through ADi RoomMate, we’re helping create greater independence, dignity and confidence throughout the journey. Accessibility is about more than providing information; it’s about giving people the freedom to travel on their own terms. We’re proud to be helping make that a reality alongside East Midlands Railway.”