UK funds disabled assistance app for rail journeys

Posted by & filed under assist-Mi.

ITS (UK) member assist-Mi has received Government funding to develop and pilot a smartphone application that will help disabled rail passengers to request real time assistance during their journey, the company has announced.

Innovation agency Innovate UK is providing £260,000 for the 18 month ‘SMART’ – Spontaneous Mobile Accessible Rail Travel – project.

The solution aims to put an end to current practices that mean disabled assistance on trains needs to be booked 24 hours in advance, which reduces travel planning flexibility and can cause problems if a service is missed, delayed or cancelled.

Co-founder of assist-Mi and chairman of ITS (UK)’s Inclusive Mobility Interest Group Gary McFarlane said: “We are very excited to put assist-Mi on the map for smartphone app innovation and be given this fantastic opportunity to solve the problems that so many rail passengers face on a daily basis.

“Creating real time assistance for the disabled user is something we feel should be available across all service providers.”

Read more - http://www.its-ukreview.org/uk-funds-disabled-assistance-app-for-rail-journeys/