As families reunite across the country during the festive season, millions of people will encounter the added complexity of busy transport hubs, unpredictable schedules, and interdependency - travelling as part of a group with diverse access needs.
This annual surge in travel activity is reflected in the numbers: Throughout the festive period, transport hubs across the country will experience a sudden surge in passenger numbers with footfall typically reaching its peak of the year. Heathrow Airport, for example, expects the number of passengers on Christmas Day to increase by 21% in comparison to last year1. On the railways, the passenger numbers in Q4 were 20.9% higher than in Q3 in 2023, a trend which is predicted to be reflected in 20242. This coupled with unpredictable winter weather conditions and last-minute schedule changes can for many, including the 16.1 million Disabled people in the UK, present barriers in the travel experience.
Transreport, a pioneering technology company specialising in inclusive travel solutions, is actively addressing these challenges, facilitating over 181,000 bookings for assisted rail travel in Q4 2023, reflecting a significant surge in demand during the busy festive season.
As more passengers consider accessible travel options during this peak period, Transreport wants to ensure Disabled and older passengers, and anyone with access needs, has access to information around the technology available to empower safe, confident travel.
Transreport’s innovative Passenger Assistance technology is playing a crucial role in breaking down barriers by streamlining the process of requesting assistance to ensure more inclusive travel experiences for all. Via a user-friendly app or web version, passengers can communicate their access needs ahead of journeys in just a few steps. Assistance requests made via Transreport’s Passenger Assistance technology are immediately sent to the train operating companies, providing rail staff with all the information required to deliver timely and personalised assistance to each and every customer.
The app can therefore also support families traveling together, simplifying planning trips and ensuring that everyone can focus on enjoying their time together during the holidays.
Emma Partlow, Transreport’s Director of Consumer Engagement and Policy, brings a perspective grounded in lived experience. Emma highlights “The increased demand for assisted travel during the busy Christmas period provides a powerful call to action to embed accessibility 365 days a year, in order to ensure inclusive travel and more equitable access to experiences year-round. As a Disabled person, there is additional admin involved when planning travel and this is especially time-consuming during the festive season. Technology can be key to removing the onus from Disabled people to spend hours communicating access needs back and forth but it must work alongside wider industry and societal change.”
Building on this mission, Transreport recently launched its Community Network, a collaborative initiative focused on increasing co-creation with Disabled communities worldwide. Through this Network, Transreport further strengthens feedback loops with end-users, ensuring lived experience expertise continues to play an active role in the company’s mission of democratising travel globally. End-users are invited to participate in multiple formats including webinars, workshops, and focus groups - integrating real user insights and enhancing the technology’s value for passengers and transport operators alike.
Joe Logue, Community Manager at Euan’s Guide, emphasises the app’s particular value during busy periods: “Knowing I’ve arranged my assistance in advance using the Passenger Assistance app relieves so much stress, as I have faith that I’ll be able to board safely and know that staff at my destination will be expecting me. This has generally been my experience year-round, but it feels especially vital at Christmas.”
The technology’s impact extends beyond individual journeys. Sandie Roberts, Founder of the Shine Collective, says: “As the number of passengers needing assistance spikes, the strain on services highlights why we need accessibility to be standard, not a special request. If I can make it simpler and easier by using tools or technology, I absolutely will.”
This Christmas surge in travel presents a powerful call to action to prioritise accessibility year-round. In collaboration with Disabled communities and the travel and transport industries, Transreport continues to work toward a future where accessible travel is the standard, not the exception.
References:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-factsheet-2023/rail-factsheet-2023
- https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/heathrow-set-for-busiest-christmas-in-record-year
