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Sign language app trial for train passengers

BBC A person holds their iPhone while sitting on a train, it has the South Western Railway app open and the screen shows a video in the middle of the screen with a man who is about to use British Sign Language to explain an announcementBBC
The Signapse app uses AI generated images to instantly translate rail information into British Sign Language

An app immediately translating train announcements into British Sign Language has been launched.

South Western Railway is trialling Signapse, which uses AI generated images to deliver information to deaf passengers.

The trial is currently running on services between Basingstoke, London, Salisbury and Exeter, with hopes to extend the initiative.

Developers hope the app will make train journeys less stressful and plans to introduce the app in all public places.

Sophie Woolley is standing in a busy train station, she is upstairs with a view of the lower platform area below and large clocks suspended from the ceiling. Behind her are also passengers walking. Sophie has mid length blonde hair, wears a pink lipstick and a black blouse with white polka dots
Bridgerton actress, Sophie Woolley, said travelling on trains as a deaf person can feel "invisible"

The company Signapse, which is based in Surrey, launched two years ago.

It's app allows mobile phone users to stay up to date on important train announcements.

Actress Sophie Woolley, who is deaf, starred in the Netflix show Bridgerton using BSL.

“I used to feel like a second-class citizen,” she said.

“This makes me feel like I’ve been upgraded to first class. We feel welcome in a public space. It is valuing us."

Ms Woolley added: "If there's information that relies on being able to hear clearly, then I might miss something and I might be at the wrong platform or I might be on the train and I don't have information that's emergency.

"Often I feel like: 'Am I the only deaf person in this space?' Deafness, it can feel invisible."

The sign language app can be accessed on passengers phones

Marcus Oaten, from Signapse, explained the app uses AI technology to develop a sign language photo realistic signer.

He added: "Any written English information can be translated into British Sign Language and we use AI to demonstrate that. That's what Signapse is all about - translation using technology.

"So you'll be able to access any information from train platforms and also announcements, but we're focusing on public transport initially, because accessibility is crucial to the deaf community.”

South Western Railway is running the trial until March 2025, it's the first in the UK to use a customer's own phone.

Amy Sullivan, from South Western Railway, added: "The west of England has been chosen as the first route to launch this product on, but we are soon going to be rolling it out onto other routes across our network, including routes down to Portsmouth, Weymouth and Alton."

Marcus Oaten is standing in the aisle of a train, he has a couple of passengers in the background behind him and is giving an interview using British Sign Language. Marcus has short hair and a beard, he wears a navy blue collared linen shirt, a black watch on one wrist and a stack of bracelets on the other
Marcus Oaten, from Signapse, said the company was prioritising public transport services to start with

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