Published 12 Nov 2024
The pioneering open access operator Lumo has created a special video to celebrate Purple Tuesday - the global movement dedicated to enhancing customer experiences for disabled people and their families.
Lumo teamed up with partners Destination North East England, Eldon Square, bus operator Go North East and Northern Stage to make a video that follows service users with disabilities from the region’s Percy Hedley Foundation as they spend a day in Newcastle. It’s designed to showcase the accessibility of the city for all.
The video sees them access vital facilities like accessible boarding support with Lumo at Newcastle Central Station, Changing Places toilets at Northern Stage, lowered service counters and sensory packs at Eldon Square and next-stop announcements aboard a Go North East bus.
As part of the film, landmarks across the region are being illuminated in distinctive purple as part of the support across the region for Purple Tuesday. Iconic landmarks ranged from Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge to the magnificent Sunderland Empire theatre’s Edwardian entrance.
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: "It’s a pleasure to join forces with organisations across Newcastle as we mark Purple Tuesday - an important celebration of accessibility and inclusion. The film we created really demonstrates what a welcoming place Newcastle and the wider region is to both live in and visit.
“Our commitment at Lumo is to deliver a consistent, high-quality service, making journeys easy, convenient and above all ensuring that accessibility is at the forefront of everything we do. Our industry-leading customer satisfaction score of 96% demonstrates our promise to ensure that all of our passengers have a safe and enjoyable journey. We believe that everyone has a right to travel confidently and independently."
Lumo was the first train operator to offer an autism guide to using its services. This includes a timetable for when trains go into tunnels or similar darkness, for those who are especially sensitive to light. The team at Lumo are sharing this approach with industry bodies about how this can be used more widely by other train companies to be even more inclusive.
John Marshall, Chair of Destination North East England, said: “We are famed for our North Eastern welcome, ensuring every visitor receives our trademark warm and ‘canny’ embrace. Being open and accessible to everybody is not only the right thing to do but it makes business sense too, helping to grow our audience and access the multi-billion Purple Pound market, making sure even more people can come and experience our wonderful region, without barriers."
“As we work to double the value of the visitor economy, it is fantastic to see landmarks around the region displaying their purple pride and to see partners from across the industry come together today to commit to making the North East a truly accessible and inclusive place to visit.”
Lumo teamed up with partners Destination North East England, Eldon Square, bus operator Go North East and Northern Stage to make a video that follows service users with disabilities from the region’s Percy Hedley Foundation as they spend a day in Newcastle. It’s designed to showcase the accessibility of the city for all.
The video sees them access vital facilities like accessible boarding support with Lumo at Newcastle Central Station, Changing Places toilets at Northern Stage, lowered service counters and sensory packs at Eldon Square and next-stop announcements aboard a Go North East bus.
As part of the film, landmarks across the region are being illuminated in distinctive purple as part of the support across the region for Purple Tuesday. Iconic landmarks ranged from Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge to the magnificent Sunderland Empire theatre’s Edwardian entrance.
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: "It’s a pleasure to join forces with organisations across Newcastle as we mark Purple Tuesday - an important celebration of accessibility and inclusion. The film we created really demonstrates what a welcoming place Newcastle and the wider region is to both live in and visit.
“Our commitment at Lumo is to deliver a consistent, high-quality service, making journeys easy, convenient and above all ensuring that accessibility is at the forefront of everything we do. Our industry-leading customer satisfaction score of 96% demonstrates our promise to ensure that all of our passengers have a safe and enjoyable journey. We believe that everyone has a right to travel confidently and independently."
Lumo was the first train operator to offer an autism guide to using its services. This includes a timetable for when trains go into tunnels or similar darkness, for those who are especially sensitive to light. The team at Lumo are sharing this approach with industry bodies about how this can be used more widely by other train companies to be even more inclusive.
John Marshall, Chair of Destination North East England, said: “We are famed for our North Eastern welcome, ensuring every visitor receives our trademark warm and ‘canny’ embrace. Being open and accessible to everybody is not only the right thing to do but it makes business sense too, helping to grow our audience and access the multi-billion Purple Pound market, making sure even more people can come and experience our wonderful region, without barriers."
“As we work to double the value of the visitor economy, it is fantastic to see landmarks around the region displaying their purple pride and to see partners from across the industry come together today to commit to making the North East a truly accessible and inclusive place to visit.”