A pawsome day out on the Metro
17.08.2024
Accredited assistance dogs and their owners tested out the new Crows Nest Station on the Metro City line to make sure Australia’s only fully-accessible railway is up to scratch.
A group of 20 visitors from the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT team, including half who are blind or have low vision, and six guide dogs attended the outing to familiarise themselves with the new station.
The preview of the transport hub ahead of opening day allowed time for the group to understand the layout of the station, positioning of escalators and lifts as well as the location of facilities like customer help and emergency points at their own pace.
Sydney Metro is a transport system designed to benefit all passengers, with all metro services and stations fully accessible. Each station is built with people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and people with accessibility requirements in mind.
The accessible features of Sydney Metro stations and trains include:
• Level access between platforms and trains, meaning no more ‘step’ into a trains;
• Australian-first technology in platform screen doors at every station to keep people and objects safely away from the tracks;
• Digital screens and interactive kiosks at stations to inform passengers of when the next service is;
• Hearing loop services;
• Braille signage;
• Lifts at all stations;
• Audio and video help points;
• Tactile flooring;
• Accessible toilets;
• Kerb ramps and accessible kiss-and-ride drop-off/pick-up points;
• Indicator lighting and sounding chimes to let passengers know when platform screen doors are opening and closing;
• Each metro train has two wheelchair spaces per carriage as well as dedicated priority seating for those with accessibility requirements. There are also two multi-purpose areas for prams, luggage and bicycles.
When Sydney Metro City opens passengers will benefit from fully accessible transport hubs at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross in North Sydney, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal in the Sydney CBD, Central, Waterloo and Sydenham.
While animals are not permitted at metro stations or able to travel on metro trains, assistance animals with a valid form of accreditation are allowed on all public transport in NSW.