EWR Inclusive Design: Building Accessible UK Rail Infrastructure

East West Railway Pioneers Inclusive Design with Accessibility Advisory Panel

East West Railway (EWR) is forging a new path in railway design, actively involving individuals with lived experience of disabilities to ensure its stations are fully accessible and user-friendly. The project, slated to connect Oxford and Cambridge, is leveraging the expertise of its Accessibility Advisory Panel (AAP) to build a modern railway that caters to the needs of all passengers. This initiative, commencing in 2025, represents a significant shift towards inclusive design in the rail industry. The AAP, composed of local residents with disabilities, is providing critical feedback on station layouts, signage, navigation, and the overall passenger experience. The primary goal is to eliminate barriers to travel caused by poor design and ensure a seamless experience for all users.

Expert Feedback: A Cornerstone of Design

The EWR AAP, comprising twelve local residents with a range of disabilities, has undertaken a series of site visits to stations along the proposed route. These visits, conducted at stations such as Bedford, Bletchley, and Bicester Village, are crucial to understanding the practical implications of design choices. Panel members, who are uniquely positioned to assess accessibility challenges, are providing direct feedback on critical elements like wayfinding, platform heights, and the availability of assistive technologies. The AAP’s assessments are not just about identifying problems; they’re also about celebrating what works, highlighting examples of successful accessibility features that can be replicated across the EWR network. The insights gathered are immediately translated into actionable recommendations for architects and designers, ensuring the project’s design principles are fully aligned with the needs of disabled passengers. This proactive approach allows the EWR project to proactively adapt designs as needed.

Proactive Approach: Addressing Barriers to Travel

Mary Doyle, Co-Chair of EWR Co’s AAP and an independent inclusive transport consultant, emphasizes that barriers to travel are not inherent to disabilities themselves but are a result of flawed design and inadequate processes. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity and duty to build a railway that will last for 200 years which truly includes everyone, right from the start,” she says. This philosophy drives the project’s commitment to inclusive design, aiming to deliver a system that is accessible, neurodiversity-friendly, and caters to the needs of older passengers. The AAP’s work builds on prior efforts to identify and prioritize accessibility concerns, forming the foundation for a more inclusive railway design. The core intent is to move towards a design culture that incorporates user experience in all aspects of the design.

Collaboration and Implementation: Direct Insights in Action

To facilitate effective feedback and design integration, members of EWR’s architectural and design teams are actively participating in the station visits alongside representatives from MWJV (a joint venture between WSP and Mott MacDonald), the principal designer for EWR. This direct engagement enables designers to witness firsthand the impact of their designs, fostering a deeper understanding of the user experience. “It was powerful having our design team on-site with us,” explains Laura Lewis, Human Factors and Inclusive Design Lead for EWR. “Seeing the impact of designs first-hand should enable them to put themselves in the shoes of disabled people and to develop more accessible solutions.” This collaborative approach underscores EWR’s commitment to incorporating user feedback into every phase of the design process, ensuring that the final product meets the diverse needs of its passengers.

Conclusion

EWR’s pioneering approach, which places the voices of disabled passengers at the forefront of its design process, sets a new standard for accessibility in the railway industry. By actively incorporating lived experiences and providing designers with invaluable on-site insights, EWR is not just building a railway; it’s constructing a more inclusive and equitable transportation system. This commitment to inclusive design has the potential to redefine passenger expectations and foster a new level of user-centric service. The successful integration of the AAP’s feedback is critical to achieving EWR’s goal of becoming the “accessibility gold standard,” bringing joy back to rail travel for all. The initiative’s success will hopefully influence future infrastructure projects, showcasing that truly accessible design is not merely a regulatory requirement but a vital element of a modern, forward-thinking railway system. EWR has the opportunity to act as a benchmark for inclusive transport, driving progress for the industry in this area.

Company Summary

East West Railway Co (EWR) is a UK-based entity charged with developing a new railway line connecting Oxford and Cambridge, enhancing connectivity and supporting economic growth in the region. The project aims to integrate a user-first mindset through inclusive design principles. MWJV (a joint venture between WSP and Mott MacDonald) provides design and engineering expertise in support of this project.