The Sunflower on rail and tram journeys
Rail and tram travel can work well for some people with non-visible disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses. A direct service, a familiar route and the option to travel without driving may make a journey easier to manage.
Stations and onboard environments can also create barriers. Crowded concourses, late platform changes, ticket gates and the gap between a platform and a vehicle can all make a journey harder. Noise, lighting, spoken announcements and an unexpected disruption may increase the need for support.
The scale of urban rail makes that support important. The International Association of Public Transport recorded 53.768 billion metro passenger journeys worldwide in 2017.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a voluntary way for a passenger to indicate that they may need extra time, understanding or support. It does not disclose a diagnosis. It is not a priority pass, and staff should never ask why someone is wearing it.
When station and onboard teams recognise the Sunflower, they should ask how they can help and listen to the answer. A passenger may need help with a ticket machine, directions to the correct platform, boarding, changing services or understanding what to do during a disruption.
The operators and networks below are confirmed Sunflower members or have published official information about recognising the Sunflower. An organisation name is linked only when its own website refers to the Sunflower. Support and collection points vary.
Rail operators and networks that recognise the Sunflower
Asia Pacific
Australia
Metro Trains Melbourne
Suburban passenger rail across metropolitan Melbourne.
Transport for NSW rail services
Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services in Sydney and regional New South Wales.
V/Line
Regional passenger rail services in Victoria.
Queensland Rail Travel
Long-distance passenger rail services in Queensland.
Public Transport Authority of Western Australia
The authority responsible for Transperth services, including Perth's passenger train network.
New Zealand
Auckland One Rail
Operator of Auckland's metropolitan passenger rail services.
Europe
Cross-border operators
DSB
Passenger trains in Denmark, with cross-border services to Germany and Sweden.
Eurostar
International trains serving the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
SBB
Switzerland's national rail network and international connections to neighbouring countries.
France
SNCF Transilien
Suburban and regional passenger rail services in the Île-de-France region.
Netherlands
Arriva Nederland
Regional passenger train services in several parts of the Netherlands.
Switzerland
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Passenger rail between Zermatt, Andermatt and Disentis in the Swiss Alps.
Aargau Verkehr
Regional rail and bus services centred on the canton of Aargau.
United Kingdom
National Rail
Every passenger train company in England, Scotland and Wales recognises the Sunflower.
Chiltern Railways
Passenger trains between London and destinations including Birmingham, Oxford and the West Midlands.
c2c
Passenger trains between London Fenchurch Street and south Essex.
North America
Canada
VIA Rail Canada
Intercity and long-distance passenger rail services across Canada.
Metrolinx
GO Transit regional rail and UP Express airport rail services in Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Ontario Northland
Polar Bear Express passenger rail between Cochrane and Moosonee in northern Ontario.
United States
Sound Transit
Link light rail and Sounder commuter rail in the central Puget Sound region of Washington State.
Tram, metro and light rail operators that recognise the Sunflower
Asia Pacific
Australia
Metro Trains Sydney
Operator of Sydney Metro services across the Northwest and Sydney City.
Transdev Sydney Light Rail
Operator of the L1, L2 and L3 light rail lines in Sydney.
Yarra Trams
Operator of Melbourne's tram network.
Europe
Cross-border operators
Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe
Tram and bus services in Basel, with tram routes extending into France and Germany.
Denmark
Metro Service
Operator of the Copenhagen Metro and Greater Copenhagen Light Rail.
France
Ginko Mobilités
Tram and bus services in Greater Besançon.
Netherlands
U-OV
Bus and tram services across the province of Utrecht.
United Kingdom
Transport for London
London Underground, DLR, London Overground, the Elizabeth line and London Trams.
Latin America
Brazil
Metro Rio
The rapid transit network serving Rio.
North America
United States
TriMet
MAX light rail and WES commuter rail in the Portland, Oregon region.
NFTA Metro Rail
Metro Rail service in Buffalo, New York.