Dear UTSG Members,

I have had some good engagement from the previous message I sent to you, so thank you to those of you who have been able to contribute so far. By way of follow up, I have added some additional questions for your consideration:

a)	Are you aware of any local outreach projects which aimed to increase inclusivity of the railway? Examples include a public training facility for the Tyne and Wear Metro based at a special school http://www.beaconhill.n-tyneside.sch.uk/BeaconHillSchool/outreach-and-training/independent-travel-training/. Additionally some work done by Northern Rail to engage with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and socially excluded groups: (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables/56-corporate/community/184-northern-community-ambassador-scheme).
b)	How do current industry processes and procedures linked to accessibility and inclusion work for rail companies at present? For example, how would they be improved or how could services like Passenger Assist be promoted to enable better uptake or make the process more effective?
c)	Do you know of any inclusion/accessibility technology projects currently being conducted e.g. projects like this one currently being trialled with TfL https://www.wayfindr.net/ for those with visual impairments or http://www.pointrlabs.com/virgintrains/ that could help to reduce or eliminate barriers for people with various impairments
d)	Do you have any information on projects or feedback with local railway focus/community groups e.g. would people like to have level access from the platform to the train? See the work done for HS2 for example http://www.transportfocus.org.uk/search/?q=hs2  
e)	Do you have examples of schemes that don’t relate to protected characteristics such as http://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/views-and-briefings/cycling-and-rail

As before, if you have any problems or wish to seek clarification on anything written here, please contact me. Alternatively a mailbox has been setup and replies can be sent to [log in to unmask] if preferred.

Ideally I would like responses to be received by 24th December 2016 in order to be considered for the study.

Yours Sincerely,

Mike Breakwell 
Senior Strategic Planner
Network Rail

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 25 November 2016 10:30

Dear members of UTSG,

I work in Network Rail’s strategic planning team, which among other things produces long term strategy documents for different aspects of the UK national rail network.

We’re in the early stages of planning a new ‘Network Study’ called “Railway for Everyone” which will look at how we can make the railway more accessible and inclusive for the general public, and would very much appreciate any input you could provide. Network Studies look at aspects of the railway most efficiently planned at a national level (e.g. freight, electrification) and identify gaps and potential interventions to rectify these.

This study will aim to identify barriers faced by people in using the railway and what as an industry we do, don’t do, and could do to remove these. It will be written at a strategic level to guide planning and investment decisions and so may not deal in detail with specific projects. It will address protected characteristics in the Equality Act (2010) and other characteristics not included, as well as barriers faced by everyone which could be reduced fairly simply through to those that would require significant intervention and long term planning across multiple disciplines and organisations.

We’re aware that various pieces of work completed or underway fulfil part of these aims, both within the industry and in an academic context. We will aim to coordinate with these existing pieces of work rather than duplicating them.

The study will involve external organisations and key parts of the rail industry. We are particularly keen to hear from you with any suggestions or input you may have. For example:

a)	Let us know of any on-going or existing work you feel we should be made aware of, whether for information or to avoid duplication
b)	Suggest any key external organisations (advocacy groups, charities, businesses etc.) which it may be particularly useful for us to consult for this piece of work
c)	Set out any initial ideas of key aspects of the railway/journey experience we might consider in the study
d)	Identify any individuals who you consider would be able to attend and add value to working groups

If any of that is unclear, I am more than happy to provide further information.

Please can I request that entries are received before 24th December 2016 in order to be considered.

A mailbox has been setup and replies can be sent to [log in to unmask] if preferred.

Yours faithfully,

Mike Breakwell 
Senior Strategic Planner
Network Rail