Southeastern has made a series of upgrades to its app to improve journey planning for disabled travellers, including a new step-free journey planner.

The operator serving London and Kent launched a series of upgrades to the app to provide further support for disabled people.

The updates include a new step-free journey planner to allow passengers to plan routes using only step-free stations, along with the incorporation of the Passenger Assistance booking tool to allow disabled passengers to book assistance up to two hours before travelling.

News Shopper: The updates include the incorporation of the Passenger Assistance booking tool.The updates include the incorporation of the Passenger Assistance booking tool. (Image: Southeastern)

Tina Owusu, Southeastern's Head of Inclusive Customer Experience, said: “We know travelling by train can be daunting to some customers, particularly if they have accessibility requirements.

“These improvements will make sure the railway is open and accessible to all and is part of our wider plans to build a better, more reliable and sustainable railway.

"We hope these upgrades will make it easier for customers across south-east London, Kent and East Sussex to travel with us and we look forward to welcoming more customers onboard in the future."

News Shopper: A recent survey revealed customers using Passenger Assistance rated Southeastern the best in the industry.A recent survey revealed customers using Passenger Assistance rated Southeastern the best in the industry. (Image: Southeastern)

A recent independent survey revealed that customers using Passenger Assistance rated Southeastern the best in the industry across several areas.

The provider was scored 82 percent for how well needs were understood and an overall satisfaction score of 98 percent.

Accessibility Consultant and Paralympian Andy Barrow added: "As an end-user as well as a consultant, I have always found the Southeastern app quick and easy to use when I choose to book assistance ahead of a journey.

"The recent addition of the Step Free Journey Planner means I have instant access to detailed station information within the app and peace of mind that I’ll be able to complete my journey, even if I’m unfamiliar with the station that I’m travelling to.

"Disabled people have busy lives, so having readily available information to enable them to quickly determine the level of assistance they require for any given journey is an important step."