Released: 16 November 2006
London Underground Stations to be assessed for disabled access
London Underground, in partnership with Direct Enquiries, has commenced assessments of all of their 274 stations, as part of a commitment to improve access for customers.
The assessments, conducted by Direct Enquiries (the Nationwide Access Register), are the first step in a campaign to make access details of London Underground more accurate, timely and widely available. This follows on from work to determine where actual improvements to access could and should be made.
The assessments will provide London Underground with detailed reports on all public areas of the network, allowing them to understand the access routes and facilities available to people who have specific requirements. This includes disabled people, older and younger people, parents with pushchairs and people with luggage.
Once the assessments have been completed, the information will be made available to the public through www.directenquiries.com, the TfL journey planner and paper-based customer information products.
London Underground’s, accessibility and inclusion manager, Chris Upfold said: “These assessments will have a huge benefit in the provision of information to our customers. Once completed, the service will allow customers to plan their journeys in far greater detail. This is about giving our customers the confidence to trust us in the information we provide. It is also part of our plans to make London Underground more accessible for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.”
Direct Enquiries’, chief executive, Grant Kennedy: “Communication of accurate information is the key to the success of any service, and none more so than public transport, where customer satisfaction relies on quality information. By assessing their stations, we are helping London Underground to achieve this whilst providing their customers with greater choice and wider travel options.”
Notes to Editors
London Underground already provides a comprehensive suite of journey planning information, catering for a wide range of disabilities and access needs. These products will be revised through 2007, and these audits are the first step in this process.
The TfL journey planner can be accessed via www.tfl.gov.uk Copies of the Tube Access Guide, Getting Around London guide, Large Print Tube Maps, Tactile maps can be obtained from the TfL Customer Services 0845 330 9880.
London Underground advises all passengers to check before travelling via the following options:
• The TfL website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tubeworks
• The London Travel Info 24hrs telephone helpline: 020 7222 1234
• BBC Ceefax, page 436, or ITV’s Teletext, page 164 and
• Information on posters, leaflets and “Good Service” boards at Tube stations.
London Underground (LU) is investing more than ever before to make the Tube as accessible as possible as quickly as possible for all customers.
By 2010, 25 per cent of Tube stations will have step-free access and this will increase to one third of stations by 2013. Where necessary, works will be prioritised to ensure that as many stations as possible serving Olympic venues have step-free access for the 2012 Games.
Significant progress has been made during the last year. Feasibility studies to improve accessibility have been completed at 90 stations allowing LU to understand the extent of the engineering works that need to take place.
Many stations do not currently meet the needs of customers with physical, hearing or visual impairments. All 252 LU-owned stations are due to be refurbished and modernised by 2011 and accessibility features will be added to each station.
Directenquiries.com, was developed as the Nationwide Disabled Access Register in 2002 in partnership with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and The Employers' Forum on Disability. During the past 12 months the information available has grown to include access for parents with pushchairs as well as the general public. This allowed directenquiries.com to rebrand as The Nationwide Access Register in January 2006.
Directenquiries.com is the only Nationwide Access Register specifically designed for companies to showcase their disabled access and other facilities. On average, directenquiries.com receives over 1.3 million hits each month from people looking for businesses, organisations and services with the disabled access they require. Registration is only £35 per year, per location, for which companies receive the following:
• Nationwide registration on directenquiries.com detailing company name, address and other contact details, including links to their website, should they have one
• Access to the Action Plan
• A “More Information” section, equivalent to five pages of A4, updateable on a daily basis. This allows businesses to include information on forthcoming additions or changes to their disabled access as well as useful information about their business in general
• Feedback facility providing customer comments and opinion
For users, directenquiries.com provides a full directory service for UK companies detailing the access and facilities available at those registered with directenquiries.com. The register currently includes disabled access information on leading high street names such as Boots, LloydsTSB, Argos, Gap, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Costa Coffee, Pizza Express, PC World and Waterstone’s as well as thousands of small and independent businesses. The disabled access information encompasses everything from parking, entrances, lifts, toilets, counter heights, wheelchair and pushchair access to staff assistance and auxiliary aids such as Braille, large print and induction loops.
For further information, images and interviews please contact us on 01344 360101 or e-mail press@directenquiries.com
www.directenquiries.com