New Standards for station signage, navigation and tactile guidance will help passengers move around stations more easily and independently, improving accessibility and making journeys easier for everyone.
The improvements form part of the latest Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Standards updates, including changes to Standards covering stations, freight operations, signalling and workforce safety. Together, they are designed to help create a safer, more efficient and better-performing railway.
The new Standards include clearer requirements for station signs, navigation routes and tactile guidance. They will help create a more consistent experience across the rail network, making stations easier to navigate, particularly for people with visual impairments, accessibility needs or those unfamiliar with a station.
Passengers will also benefit from safer, better lit and more welcoming station environments. There are new clearer requirements for platforms, waiting areas, circulation routes and station forecourts, with modernised requirements for CCTV, emergency lighting and energy efficiency.
A new station facilities Standard has been introduced, establishing a consistent framework for the facilities that should be provided at different types of station. This will help create a more consistent passenger experience across the network and give station designers and project teams clearer guidance when planning, upgrading or refurbishing stations.
The Standards will apply to new and refurbished stations, helping project teams make design decisions earlier, reduce rework and ensure accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability are considered from the outset.
Tom Lee, RSSB’s Director of Standards, said: “Good station design makes a real difference to passengers. Clear signs, well-designed facilities and safe, welcoming environments help people move around stations more easily and travel with greater confidence and independence.
“These changes will help create more consistent and accessible stations across the network, while giving project teams clearer requirements from the start. That means a better experience for passengers and more efficient delivery of station improvements.”
Other key improvements include new freight Standards supporting safer and more efficient freight operations, updates to route knowledge requirements to support digital signalling technologies, and Rule Book changes to improve track worker safety and operational efficiency.
Together, the changes are expected to deliver more than £50 million of industry benefit over the next five years.
The full Standards update is available to view at: Latest updates to standards
The Stations Hub is available to access at: RSSB’s Stations Hub unlocks innovation and efficiency for station designers
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