Tactile paving on all T&W platforms

The Tyne and Wear Metro has become England’s first rail network to have tactile paving on every platform edge.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Metro, has completed a yearlong project to upgrade the 12 remaining stations where installation of the raised strips was needed.

All 60 stations now have tactile surfacing, which create a visual and physical alert to the presence of a platform edge to aid people who are visually impaired.

“There should be no train platforms without tactile paving,” said Lewis Winton, North East Regional Campaign Officer for the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

“The feature is essential in enabling blind and partially sighted people to travel independently and safely.

“We are delighted the Tyne and Wear Metro has become the first rail network to have tactile paving installed on all its platforms and we would urge all rail networks to follow suit.”

The project was carried out ‘in-house’ by the Nexus Capital Delivery department. It is now working to install tactile paving at all staircases on the Metro network.