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Friday 27 Jan 2023

Key accessibility improvements rolling out across Scotland’s Railway

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has begun work to make Scotland’s Railway more accessible by installing tactile paving on platform edges at 148 stations.

Over 38 kilometres of raised, tactile paving slabs (95,000 individual slabs) will be installed across 250 platforms at the stations to improve safety and allow more people to travel independently.

Engineers have devised ambitious plans to complete these works within the next 12 months, working closely with ScotRail, who manage the stations.

The project will mean that all of Scotland’s 362 stations will have tactile paving on their platform edges. Work on the project is already complete at Bellgrove, Balloch, Renton, Alexandria, Newtonmore, Dalwhinnie, High Street (Glasgow) and Baillieston.

Stations where work is planned this year include:

• Ayr
• Kilpatrick
• Shettleston
• Carntyne
• Pollokshields East
• Girvan
• Barrhill
• Drem
• Glasgow Central low level
• Thurso
• Aberdeen
• Stranraer
• Wick
• Scotscalder
• Altnabreac
• Forsinard
• Newton-on-Ayr
• Longniddry
• Kinbrace
• Kildonan
• Brora
• Prestwick
• Dunrobin Castle

Tactile paving has a textured surface, which helps visually impaired passengers know when they’re close to the platform edge, improving safety and giving more people the confidence to travel by train independently.

Liam Sumpter, Route Director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “We know that many people rely on tactile paving to use the railway independently, so I’m really pleased we’ve been able to develop an ambitious 12-month plan to complete the roll-out of this project.

“Scotland’s Railway is for everyone, and this work will make rail services more accessible for our visually impaired customers.”

David Lister, ScotRail Safety, Engineering & Sustainability Director, said: “ScotRail is dedicated to making sure that everyone who uses Scotland’s Railway has equal access, and tactile paving plays a big part in helping our blind and visually impaired customers travel safely and independently.

“By working with Network Rail to have tactile paving installed at all ScotRail stations it will help to ensure all rail users can travel with confidence.”