Railway passengers in North West England are now able to access real-time VDMs during times of unplanned disruption on the rail network.
VDMs (Visual Disruption Maps) consist of a presenter standing in front of a railway map on a screen showing where on a Train Operating Company network a particular disruption is.
The content, which can be accessed through National Rail Enquiries and social media platforms, will also have British Sign Language interpreters and subtitles, making the information accessible to all.
The presenter will cover what has happened to cause the disruption, examples include a broken down train, signal failure, flooding, etc., before sharing information on route alternatives for passengers caught up by unplanned disruption.
The VDMs are planned to be available to view no longer than half an hour after an incident has been reported.
The videos will be regularly updated as work is undertaken to rectify any problems and delays, while keeping passengers regularly informed.
A joint effort between the Rail Delivery Group, Train Operating Companies, Network Rail, The Smarter Information, Smarter Journeys programme and The National Rail Communications Centre has allowed this new form of live travel reporting to become possible.
It builds on previous rollouts of travel disruption videos, which first became publicly available in other parts of the country at the end of last year.
To date, over 200 VDMs have covered lines that have been affected by delays or planned closures of the line due to engineering works.
They are becoming a vital source of live travel information and are a game changer for rail passengers during times of disruption.
“We know that when unplanned disruption happens, passengers need clear, timely updates that are easy to understand. Visual Disruption Maps for unplanned disruption brings that clarity to real-time events—helping people make informed decisions, even when journeys don’t go as planned. These videos will provide subtitles and feature British Sign Language where possible and are designed with accessibility and speed in mind. Visual Disruption Maps are making it easier for everyone to stay informed and travel with confidence.”
Jason Webb, CEO Office Director at Rail Delivery Group
Responses
It would have been helpful if this article explained how to access these VDMs.
“The content, which can be accessed through National Rail Enquiries and social media platforms, will also have British Sign Language interpreters and subtitles, making the information accessible to all.”