Nottingham trams and buses team up to put accessibility at the heart of public transport.

More than 120 students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from schools and colleges across Nottinghamshire, were welcomed by Nottingham Express Transit (NET) and Nottingham City Transport (NCT) to a series of special ‘Try a Tram’ and ‘Try a Bus’ events this June. 

The city’s public transport operators joined forces to facilitate two informative days that offered a safe and supportive introduction to travelling around the city, enabling SEND students to explore the tram and bus stops, and meet the support staff and drivers. 

The initiative was created to build confidence and familiarity with the two transport services. The sessions gave students the opportunity to gain practical knowledge of using public transport so they could feel more comfortable planning and making journeys around the city.

Luke Taylor, customer experience manager at NET, said: “We’re always looking at ways to improve education and accessibility across our network, because we believe it’s incredibly important that all tram users feel confident when travelling with us. It’s something we’re really passionate about, and we have a range of initiatives and tools to help us on that mission. 

“Events like these really help to reinforce our commitment, as they allow us to provide more hands-on practical support, while empowering SEND students to travel independently. We know that for some, busy trams can be a daunting environment, especially those with special educational needs, but through initiatives such as ‘Try a Tram’ and ‘Try a Bus’, we’re pleased to hopefully be able to encourage more people to us public transport to explore all our city has to offer.”

The event forms part of NET’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and breaking down barriers to travelling on public transport. The tram operator also has a number of initiatives in place to support independent travel for all. These include accessibility guides developed with visual communication provider Widgit, audio guides and help videos created with Thomas Pocklington Trust, staff training, passenger support and proactive engagement with mobility scooter users to ensure they know how to park safely. 

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) operates a fully accessible network, with audio and next stop announcements available on every bus, along with hearing loops, priority seats and the introduction of two wheelchair bays on its newest buses. All NCT bus drivers are currently undertaking refresher training on disabilities, to ensure they provide the best possible service to disabled passengers. 

Anthony Carver-Smith, head of marketing and projects at NCT said, “We’re committed to providing an accessible transport network at NCT and we’ve been pioneers within the bus industry to meet the needs of disabled passengers. Our buses were wheelchair accessible years before legislation required, and we rolled out next stop audio and visual announcements and hearing loops long before they were mandated. Physical features are only part of what makes getting around Nottingham accessible and the Try a Bus and Try a Tram Days have opened up the buses and trams to students to experience first-hand what they are like, giving them confidence and reassurance in a safe, controlled environment”. 

For more information about NET and accessibility support when travelling by tram, visit https://support.thetram.net/support/solutions/articles/15000055444-your-accessible-guide-to-nottingham-s-trams 

For more information about NCT and accessibility support when travelling by bus, visit https://www.nctx.co.uk/using-the-bus