EMR Expands Virtual Station Tours for Enhanced Accessibility

East Midlands Railway introduces new virtual tours for seven more stations, aiding journey planning and enhancing accessibility for disabled and anxious travelers.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has broadened its commitment to enhancing travel accessibility by unveiling new virtual tours for an additional seven stations, including Corby, Wellingborough, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Chesterfield, Market Harborough, and East Midlands Parkway. This initiative aims to simplify journey planning for all customers, especially benefiting those with disabilities or those who experience anxiety when traveling.

These meticulously designed tours utilize detailed 360-degree photography, allowing users to explore various public areas of the stations online. From toilets and customer service desks to platforms, car parks, and drop-off locations, every aspect of the station is covered, ensuring travelers can familiarize themselves with the layout before their journey begins.

EMR offers two modes of navigating these virtual environments: an "Autopilot" feature for automatic guidance to a selected destination within the station, and a manual option for users preferring to explore through interactive clicks. This innovation underscores EMR's dedication to accommodating diverse customer needs and preferences.

The development of these virtual tours was significantly informed by feedback from EMR's Accessibility Panel. This group, comprising disabled customers who regularly interact with the railway, played a crucial role in ensuring the project's alignment with the real-world needs of travelers requiring additional accessibility considerations.

Georgie Hill-Jones, a member of the Accessibility Panel, praised the project, emphasizing its potential to reduce anxiety and boost confidence among disabled passengers by allowing them to understand station layouts ahead of time.

Emma Davis, Head of Customer Experience at EMR, highlighted the importance of these virtual tours in alleviating travel-related anxieties, particularly for those with extra accessibility needs or those not accustomed to recent travel. "We hope these virtual tours provide a useful tool for customers when they are planning their journey," Davis stated.

The initiative complements existing virtual tours for stations like Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham, Lincoln, and Kettering, making a significant stride towards making travel more accessible and less daunting for all passengers. The virtual tours are accessible on the EMR website, offering an innovative solution to journey planning challenges.