The National Autistic Society has recently awarded Great Western Railway its ‘Autism Friendly’ award – the very first train company to receive this important accreditation.
The award is in recognition of GWR’s commitment to creating an inclusive experience for autistic people so they can travel comfortably and confidently.
Support available
GWR has several autism-friendly products available, including:
- A soundbite series to help people get familiar with sounds typically experienced when travelling by train, available here
- Virtual video tours of stations so people know exactly what to expect on arrival, available at GWR’s YouTube channel
- Sensory packs that provide coping tools to make travel more comfortable, details here
- Ear defenders to support passengers who experience over-stimulation or sensory overload (available at some staffed stations)
- The ‘Try a Train’ programme, which supports individuals/groups to develop travel confidence.
On the spot help
GWR’s frontline colleagues also receive training to make sure they can offer on the spot help for customers with sensory needs.
Your feedback is important
GWR is always looking for innovative approaches and solutions for improving accessibility. If you would like to get in touch with them about their autism-friendly products or if you have any other accessibility suggestions, you can email them at accessibilitymentors@gwr.com.