TOC Ability is a collaborative innovation initiative to enhance accessibility to rail services. Organisations across the academic, private and public sectors, are assisting in the development of an intelligent accessibility hub that will exchange real-time information between passengers, Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and service providers’ systems.
29.01.19 – TOC Ability: Designing Intelligent Mobility – TOC Ability Final Report – January 2019
04.01.18 – TOC Ability – January 2018 development update
11.04.17 – Consortium to develop new digital platform to improve rail travel accessibility
13.03.17 – GB rail industry funds improved passenger accessibility
13.03.17 – Six innovation projects set for funding in RSSB’s TOC’16 competition
TOC Ability is being co-designed by an ‘accessibility panel’, made up of disabled people with a range of impairments, ensuring an improved door-to-door travel experience for all passengers is central to delivery of an efficient nationwide rail network.
Karen Meaney uses a wheelchair to enable her to commute to the City of London . She has a Genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which is often an invisible disability. Amongst other things, EDS can make walking over long distances difficult.
As Managing Director of GCL, Nick is responsible for the day to day running of a rapidly growing business which has trebled in size in the last three years and is now recognised and one of the UK’s leading providers of equality training and consultancy.
Marie Pye has been involved in issues relating to disability and equality for all of her professional life. She was a member of the TfL Independent Disability Advisory Group and then the chair, and led work for the Disability Rights Commission for many years.
Vidar Hjardeng, MBE, spent over thirty years with ITV running Political and Social Action Programmes, recently, leading on Diversity. He is a board member of RNIB, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Shape Arts and Associate of the Business Disability Forum
Lady-Marie was a PT Instructor in the Royal Signals prior to sustaining a spinal cord injury. She works as a Regional Peer Support Officer and Advocate for people with spinal injuries. She is an avid public transport user; train travel being her preferred mode of transport.
Roger is Profoundly Deaf. For 7 years he was a member of the Department of Transport Disabled Peoples Transport Advisory Group (DPTAG), followed by a further 7 years on the Transport for London Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG).
Peter Lainson started life as an Army technician and subsequently worked in various Estates departments within the N.H.S., he spent the final ten years of his working life as a Community Liaison Officer for Essex County Council.
Tanvi Vyas is a disability consultant working with young people, adults and families with muscular dystrophy. She has travelled extensively across the UK and abroad and has featured in various media campaigns highlighting challenges faced by disabled people.
Alun Francis has been Disability Liaison Officer at Arsenal FC for over 12 years. He has previously worked in the disability sector for the Access Committee for England (ACE) and RADAR (Royal Association for Disability Rights).
Aaron is acutely visually impaired (registered blind) and also has a hearing impairment. He works as an artist and postgraduate lecturer in art and design and has exhibited and published internationally.
Lesley Cartwright volunteers with MIND and is an active participant in the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Group in Essex. Lesley took part in the initial TOC Ability pilot trial, testing our help point and integrated SMS services.
John has been a tetraplegic wheelchair user since 2003, prior to this he worked for a civil engineering company involved in projects with LUL and Network Rail. TOC Ability was the first time he used a train in the UK since his accident.
In addition to front line, operations, and senior management staff from within the projects’ TOC partners, the TOC Ability programme is supported by an Industry Advisory Group. This team consists of key contributors to the development of the UK’s railway network, each with significant experience or focus on delivering improved accessibility:
The TOC Ability hub will enable the GB rail industry to embrace international governance standards for data protection, including compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation Act in respect of sharing sensitive personal data.
Testing during November 2018 between London Underground and Arriva UK Trains has successfully demonstrated how TOC Ability will break down boundaries between rail operators and disabled passengers, advancing the UK rail networks’ overall accessibility.
For TOC Ability press enquiries please contact: zoe.shute@atkinsglobal.com
For TOC integration and technical enquiries please contact: hello@yousmartthing.com