Applied Languages

    Posted by Jaiken Struck on June 8th, 2009

Ticket machines on the London Underground (LU) have been upgraded to speak the language for more of London’s diverse migrant communities as well as tourists and business travellers.

Some of the touch-screen machines were already available in six languages – English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Since last week, all machines in every station will help passengers in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Punjabi, Tamil, Turkish and Urdu. More than 300 languages are spoken in total in London.

Kulveer Ranger, City Hall’s Transport Director to the Mayor of London, said: “Boosting the number of languages on our ticket machines is just another step in making life easier for those who live in, or travel through, the capital.”

He said improving the languages on the ticket machines would give many people added confidence, help maintain London as a city that supports its cultural diversity and would also improve tourists’ visits to the city, as they would get that ‘positive experience’ of London.

LU is undertaking a major programme of renewal as part of Transport for London’s Investment Programme. Tube bosses, of course, have their eye on the 2012 Olympics when East London plays host to the world.

Read more: BBC News, Hackney Gazette

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