TransPennine Express (TPE) has announced that it will be rolling out baby on board badges across its network, helping pregnant customers more easily access support during their journeys. The new badges aim to help expectant mothers signal when they may need a seat while travelling.
Passengers can pick one up at stations, and conductors will carry them as part of their everyday kit. Wearing the badge tells fellow travellers you may need a seat or a bit of extra consideration, without you having to say a word.
Why the badges matter on busy trains
Pregnancy isn’t always visible, and crowded services leave few seats available. TPE says the badge gives customers a clear, discreet way to signal they could use support, and it helps other passengers spot who might need a hand.
The operator is asking everyone to watch out for the badges and, where they can, offer their seat to anyone wearing one.
Andy McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, said the railway should be “welcoming and accessible for everyone”. He described the badge as “a simple and discreet way” to let others know someone may need a seat. “It may seem like a small gesture, but it can have a big impact on a customer’s confidence and comfort,” he added.
Where the baby on board badges will be in use
TPE runs the North TransPennine, South TransPennine and Anglo Scottish routes. They connect Manchester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool Lime Street, Leeds, Sheffield, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, among many other stops. The badges will be available across that network.
For more on TPE services and passenger support, see the operator’s official website.
