This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and London Northwestern Railway (LNR) is helping to raise awareness.

The operator is highlighting the available support options, including a restock of sensory bags.

Items such as these sensory bags can be requested from ticket offices and contain earplugs, fidget toys, sunglasses and a stress ball designed to help reduce sensory overload.

Additionally, following a trial, journey planner notepads are being rolled out to help those who prefer to have information written down.

Customers can also access Travel Assistance Cards, which feature phrases such as “Please be patient, I have a disability” and “I need help buying a ticket” to help passengers communicate no matter the situation. These can also be requested from stations or on the operator’s website.

“Making the railway accessible for everyone is a key priority for us. We recognise that railway stations can be a difficult environment for neurodiverse passengers, so this Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we want to raise awareness of the options available to help manage sensory overload and support communication. Our colleagues receive accessibility training, so passengers can feel confident asking staff for support while travelling with us.”

Javeriah Abbas, passenger assistance delivery manager at LNR