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Rail firm to roll out sign language announcements

Northern A view of a Northern train with blue seats and yellow handrails. We look down the middle of a carriage towards a number of passengers who are standing up in the distance.Northern
Northern will use on-board screens to provide passengers with information in sign language

A rail company operating across the north of England will introduce sign language announcements on all of its services.

Northern has trialled technology which means interpreters appear on trains' on-board screens, for example to let passengers know about the next stop.

The system, piloted on trains between Manchester, Leeds and York last year, will be introduced across the fleet next year.

Northern's chief operating officer Matt Rice said the technology was part of plans to make rail travel "more accessible" and give people the "confidence to travel by train".

Northern Two screens on a Northern train show a sign language interpreter, wearing a black shirt, announcing the train's next stop. Northern
On-screen sign language interpreters are used to announce upcoming stops

The trial used British Sign Language (BSL) to share on-board information with passengers with hearing impairments.

Interpreters were filmed signing each station and an AI program then also used the clips to provide updates about cancellations and delays.

According to recent census data, more than 22,000 people across England and Wales use BSL as their main language.

"These sign language announcements have been well-received by our customers during the recent trial," Mr Rice said.

"We can now press ahead with rolling them out on all of our services."

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