Be My Eyes, Amtrak Announce ‘Major Step Forward’ for more accessible Train travel

Last month, Be My Eyes announced it was partnering with Amtrak to expand “live visual support” to more than 50 Amtrak stations nationwide. The supported locations include the two here in my home in the Bay Area—they’re in Emeryville and Oakland.

“When we launched our pilot with Amtrak in August [of last year], the goal was simple,” Be My Eyes wrote of the initiative in its announcement. “[We wanted to] make it easier for Blind and low vision travelers to navigate busy train stations in real time. Stations can be overwhelming: changing tracks, crowded platforms, hard-to-read departure boards, and unfamiliar layouts are all part of the experience.”

According to the company, the Be My Eyes app is able to assist passengers find their correct gate and/or track, decipher departure boards and other signage, and navigate large and/or unfamiliar stations. “The feedback was clear. The service helped reduce stress, supported independent travel, and proved its value in real-world journeys,” Be My Eyes said. “As a result, Amtrak has decided to scale the program nationwide.”

In its post, Be My Eyes highlights the experience of Brian, a New York-based Blind comedian and podcaster who “lost his vision later in life” from retinitis pigmentosa.

“For Blind and low vision passengers, accessibility isn’t optional—it’s essential,” Bryan Bashin, vice president at Be My Eyes, said in a statement for the company’s announcement. “Seeing this partnership grow from a pilot into a nationwide expansion shows what’s possible when accessibility is built into the travel experience.”

For Amtrak’s part, the transit company says on its own website it is steadfastly “committed to ensuring that its facilities are fully accessible and is continually working on accessibility improvements,” also noting “most stations” certainly in major cities, and around the country writ large, “are accessible to passengers with a disability.”

I reported in 2023 on Amtrak’s plans for “soliciting feedback” on its accessibility.