2022 has been our biggest year yet. We’ve had some big successes, while also laying the groundwork for some bigger wins next year and in the future. Here are some highlights: Family-friendly scorecard In January we launched a family-friendly scorecard to assess train operating companies against a series of family-friendly metrics such as the availabilityContinue reading “2022 – The year in review”
Category Archives: Campaign Update
Family-friendly pledge, Family lounge and CFFT on the airwaves!
Family-Friendly Pledge During our campaign we’ve found that mistakes made in the past have a long legacy – it’s why existing rolling stock used by most train operators doesn’t have space for unfolded buggies. It may not be feasible for all train operators to immediately change their train layouts, but they can avoid making theContinue reading “Family-friendly pledge, Family lounge and CFFT on the airwaves!”
Campaign Update
Well, what busy bees we’ve been. When we last wrote a full campaign update back in November we’d just started meeting the ROSCOs (rolling stock companies – companies that own the trains). We’ve since met with almost all the ROSCOs and many of the main train manufacturers, caught up with some of the TOCs (trainContinue reading “Campaign Update”
Family friendly travel: how does each Train Operating Company fare?
This is the first scorecard to assess and compare train operating companies across the UK for their provision of family-friendly services and facilities. The research finds that, overall, train operating companies across the UK are failing dismally to support families with young children to travel by train. Only five companies – TfL, c2c, LNER, MerseyrailContinue reading “Family friendly travel: how does each Train Operating Company fare?”
Avanti West Coast train refurbishment: Campaign groups condemn failure to provide facilities for young families
The Campaign for Family Friendly Trains and campaign group Pregnant then Screwed join together to express disappointment that recent upgrades to Avanti West Coast fleet makes no provision for unfolded prams. Avanti West Coast have recently upgraded their Pendolino fleet, describing it as an inclusive design. Despite being billed as the UK’s biggest ever trainContinue reading “Avanti West Coast train refurbishment: Campaign groups condemn failure to provide facilities for young families”
Designers show potential of family-friendly train interiors in the UK
The Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains has welcomed a new train interior concept from transport design consultancy PriestmanGoode that includes space for unfolded prams and pushchairs. The Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains met with PriestmanGoode during the design process to offer feedback and influence the design. The design is being demonstrated in Marylebone Station until Sunday 3rdContinue reading “Designers show potential of family-friendly train interiors in the UK “
Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains launches national scorecard
The Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains has reached out to all Train Operating Companies asking them to self-evaluate against a series of family-friendly metrics such as the availability of space for unfolded prams on trains and whether assisted boarding has been extended to those travelling with young children. Nick Flynn from the Campaign commented: ‘Train travelContinue reading “Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains launches national scorecard”
November campaign update
The last few months have seen a lot of activity for our ever-growing campaign team. In September we met with Network Rail, who told us all about their Whole Industry Strategic Review (WISR) which follows on from the government’s white paper ‘The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail’, in which the idea of Great British Rail wasContinue reading “November campaign update”
Campaign meets with Rail Delivery Group CEO
We were delighted to meet with Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, earlier this month to share our experiences of travelling by train with young children, and examples of family friendly trains from across Europe. We plan to meet again in the near future and we look forward to hearing about the progressContinue reading “Campaign meets with Rail Delivery Group CEO”
Meetings with TOCs, Key Train Requirements and East West Rail
Meetings with train operating companies We were pleased that Great Western Railway agreed to meet with us in February. GWR and their new IET trains have caused many complaints amongst new parents as no space for pushchairs is provided on board. Instead parents are left sitting in vestibule areas or babies and toddlers sleeping inContinue reading “Meetings with TOCs, Key Train Requirements and East West Rail”