TPE Expands Sign Language Upgrade to Manchester Airport

Passenger information screens at Manchester Airport have received upgrades to include information to assist British Sign Language (BSL) users in finding their next train into the city centre.

The screens now include announcements for the next available TransPennine Express (TPE) service toward Manchester Piccadilly, with the upgrade having been carried out following data collected by the Office of Rail and Road showing that 27% of journeys leaving Manchester Airport are toward the station.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director, said:

We are constantly looking for ways to improve accessibility for our customers and we hope this small change will create an easier journey for BSL users travelling through Manchester.

TPE first added BSL information to screens across its network in 2022 after census data in 2021 showed that BSL was used as the main language of 22,000 people.

In 2024, TPE completed tests for a new announcement system aimed at improving journey experiences for hearing impaired passengers via the use of real-time transcriptions of live announcements shown on on-board screens.

Elsewhere, TPE has stated it is working on improvements to both toilets and seating on-board its services, including the addition of stoma-friendly facilities within its accessible toilets.