Doha, Qatar: As part of its commitment to provide an inclusive travel experience for people with disabilities, Qatar Railways company (Qatar Rail), in collaboration with Al Noor Centre for the Blind, launched the ‘Al Noor Centre Guide for Doha Metro’ during the 32nd edition of the Doha International Book Fair.
This guide signifies Qatar Rail’s commitment to providing comprehensive support and assistance to the blind and visually impaired community, facilitating their journeys across the Doha Metro network.
The guide utilises the Braille system to offer an overview of the Doha Metro, aids in navigating the network, and explains the utilisation of various services to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Khalifa Hassan Al Jehani, Chief of Corporate Support at Qatar Rail, stated: “We are proud to collaborate with Al-Noor Centre for the Blind in launching the ‘Al Noor Centre Guide for Doha Metro’. This guide, which is the first of its kind, represents an important step in our strategy to enhance accessibility for visually impaired individuals to the facilities and services of Doha Metro.
“Qatar Rail is dedicated to providing convenience and comfort to all travellers and hopes that this guide will enhance the travel experiences of the visually impaired throughout the Metro network.”
He added: “Qatar Rail always works closely to collaborate and coordinate with relevant entities in Qatar to raise societal awareness about the needs of the blind and visually impaired community and integrate them into society. In collaboration with various partners, we look forward to continuing the implementation and launch of further services and facilities that support the improvement of the travel experience for people with disabilities through the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks.”
Meanwhile, Mishaal Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Al Noor Centre for the Blind said: “We are delighted to launch the ‘Al-Noor Centre Guide for Doha Metro’, and to be a key partner of Qatar Rail in this achievement. The guide is a valuable tool and reference, enabling the visually impaired community to navigate the Metro network with confidence, ease, and safety.”
“We appreciate the efforts made by our partners at Qatar Rail in realising this milestone, and we thank them for their continuous support in enhancing the accessibility of various public transportation facilities for people with visual impairments.
“We are excited to continue our collaboration with Qatar Rail in supporting and embracing initiatives that promote the provision of seamless travel experiences for the visually impaired.”
During the construction phase of the Doha Metro project, Qatar Rail aimed to incorporate practices that catered to the needs of people with disabilities. The project adhered to the strict and precise standards of the ‘Americans with Disabilities Act’ (ADA), ensuring that all construction companies followed these guidelines.
Qatar Rail implemented designs in the Doha Metro stations that prioritise the highest levels of security and safety for passengers with disabilities. The Metro network includes various features to facilitate movement for people with disabilities, including the blind, both inside the stations and onboard the trains.
Tactile walkways at Doha Metro stations assist passengers with vision impairments in finding their way, combining directional guidance with the detection of potential risk zones. Additionally, audio announcements within the stations and on board the trains guide visually impaired passengers during their journeys. A voice service is also available on the Travel Card Vending Machines (TVMs) to assist the blind.
