GTR staff get 'Insight' into assisting passengers with sight difficultues

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has become the UK’s first train operator to put its front line staff through Team Insight training, to teach them how to best assist visually impaired people travelling on their service.

Team Insight founded by Georgina Bullen, GB Goalball Paralympian, is used to develop trust among groups as they work together to conquer issues that arise from being either blind or visually impaired.

During the training, front line staff from Thameslink and Great Northern, wore simulation spectacles (the equivalent of a blindfold) and a white cane. The various exercises helped build even stronger working relationships and participants gained valuable visual impairment awareness for which they were awarded an accredited certificate, approved by RNIB.

Stuart Cheshire, Thameslink Passenger Service Director (pictured), said: “We are delighted with the invaluable help this has given our staff and would like to thank Team Insight for its involvement.

“The training session challenged our team and allowed them to think more about how to assist those with limited or no sight when travelling on our services. Every member of our group was able to appreciate how vulnerable people can feel if they have no sight, and were advised by Georgina on how best to put such passengers at ease.”

Georgina Bullen, Team Insight founder, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see GTR taking this action to ensure safety and comfort for all passengers.

“Every group gave 100 per cent and were genuinely interested to find out the difficulties partially sighted people face and how best to assist them. This training has hopefully given the team the confidence to put both them and the traveller at ease when assisting them.”

ENDS

For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call

Thameslink and Great Northern press office: 0203 750 2031

Notes to editors

Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:

Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks

Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn

Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)

Gatwick Express – Fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria

GTR is now the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR carries about 273 million passenger journeys per year, employs around 6,500 people and generates annual passenger revenues of approximately £1.3bn.

The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.

southernrailway.com, gatwickexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.com greatnorthernrail.com