Edinburgh Trams and Siemens Mobility recently opened the doors of the tram depot in Edinburgh for a special fundraising event in support of the RNIB, bringing together employees, volunteers, and members of the blind and visually impaired community for a day of learning.
Aglaja Schneider, Joint CEO and Managing Director, Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said:
"I am incredibly proud of the team for organising such a meaningful event. This was about so much more than the money raised – it was about breaking down barriers and building genuine understanding. Seeing our employees and the RNIB community come together is exactly the kind of impact we strive to make in the communities we serve."
RNIB representatives and members of the blind community visited the depot to learn about tram accessibility features, sparking valuable conversations on how services can better support passengers with visual impairments.
The event featured sight-loss simulation activities, including specially designed glasses replicating conditions such as Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma, giving employees a powerful first-hand insight into the daily challenges faced by visually impaired people. RNIB volunteers also had the unique opportunity to drive a tram using Siemens Mobility’s specialised simulators – a highlight that drew enthusiastic feedback.
Sarah Singh, Tram Director at Edinburgh Trams, said:
“Colleagues at Edinburgh Trams were delighted to support Siemens Mobility’s fundraising efforts in the depot in aid of RNIB Scotland last month. The event further cemented our relationship with the charity, who have been providing vital training sessions for our on-tram staff to help us better understand how to support partially sighted and blind passengers. We would like to thank the team at Siemens Mobility who organised the event, and our colleagues for contributing to such a worthy cause.”
Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager for RNIB Scotland said:
"Accessible and inclusive travel makes a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, giving them the confidence and independence to get out and about. It's been great to engage with partners like Edinburgh Trams and Siemens Mobility, who clearly understand how important this work is, and we hope it continues long into the future. Days like this also matter because they give our community the chance to be part of the conversation directly – nothing tells the story of accessible transport better than the people who use it."
