New touch Tube maps for the blind

6.59.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 5th Oct 2006

Blind passengers will be able to use a series of new tactile maps to help find their way around three Tube stations.

The maps of raised lines and braille, which are read by touch, are of Old Street, Westminster and Earl's Court underground stations.

As part of the pilot project, large print maps of the stations will also be available for partially-sighted people.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said it would help visually impaired people to travel safely and with confidence.

The maps were produced by the RNIB with the help of 15 people with sight impairments.

They detail the station layout, including the location of the ticket office, manual gate, platforms, stairs, escalators, lifts and exits.

Extra knowledge

The mayor said: "It is another positive step towards making London a truly accessible and inclusive city.

"It is exactly this kind of initiative that will help blind and partially-sighted people to... get the most out of all that the city has to offer."

Dr Sarah Morley Wilkins, of the RNIB, said assistance given by station staff to visually impaired people was still vital.

"What we hope these maps will provide is added knowledge so that blind passengers can, for example, get from the platform or the entrance to the manual gate where staff will be available to help them, safely and with confidence."

The free books are available from Transport for London (TfL) and the RNIB.