The Deafblind community has been anxious to know: what will the new Metro Tunnel mean for us when it opens? We want Melbourne to be safe and accessible.
At DBV Café on 24 September, we talked with Em Coy from EnAccess Maps and Alan Nargessi and Tim Fullerton from Metro Tunnel to find out more and talk about what makes travel easier and what still needs to improve. We know what works best for us, and our ideas help make travel safer for everyone. Comments included:
- “Handrails at stations are not always clean, so not safe.”
- “Some places say they are wheelchair accessible, but they’re not really.”
- “For a blind person like me, feeling around in a toilet cubicle for the flush button is a challenge.”
- “Resources about the new stations need to be in plain English.”
- “Southern Cross is so noisy — some people avoid it. Please don’t repeat that mistake!”
EnAccess is gathering information about things like hearing loops, Auslan-using staff, tactile wayfinding, and grass areas for guide dogs, and making it available on their website.
The Metro Tunnel team shared that five new train stations will open soon, with lifts, tactile ground markers, hearing loops, and wide platforms. You’ll also be able to move underground between Town Hall and Flinders Street Stations, without crossing busy roads.
The new stations will open in early December, but there’s still more to do. People asked for Braille and tactile signs, orientation sessions, and clear travel information. Tim said that the train timetables are a mix: some have black text on white background, which our members pointed out is not good for people with RP. Hard to read!
People were particularly concerned about what happens when things go wrong: announcements about disruptions, power outages, and staff to help when we are lost.
Accessible transport is not just about ramps and lifts. It’s about listening to deafblind people and designing a world where everyone can travel safely and confidently.
DBV events are supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information.