Mastercard and Ukrainian Railways adapt ticketing app for people with vision impairments
Ukrainian Railways, in partnership with Mastercard, has adapted its ticketing app to better serve people with vision impairments. The app's new inclusive features were developed and tested in collaboration with Access Lab (Digital Accessibility Lab).
From now on, all elements of the app’s interface can be operated using voice commands and screen readers like VoiceOver (iOS) and TalkBack (Android). To support this functionality, all buttons, switches, text fields, and other interactive elements have been supplemented with text labels that describe their functions.
"The barrier-free program of Ukrainian Railways is one of the key elements of the company's strategy and philosophy. Our goal is to make railway stations, trains, and all our services as accessible as possible for every passenger. We are making steady progress towards this goal, and today we have released an update that will allow people with vision impairments to purchase train tickets from the comfort of their homes, without needing assistance. I am grateful to our IT team, employees and partners for their contribution to developing the app," said Yevhen Liashchenko, Chairman of the Board of JSC Ukrainian Railways.
Among other improvements, the app now features voice-over during the payment process. This function provides spoken details about the purchased ticket, including information about the train, the payment amount, and the number of reward points (or “hugs”) earned.
"Accessibility lies at the core of our business at Mastercard, as we strive for a world of equal opportunities for all, where people with disabilities have barrier-free access to products and services, including financial ones. Together with Ukrainian Railways, we are excited to introduce an updated mobile ticketing app that expands accessibility for people with vision impairments. This is another step towards building a barrier-free society in Ukraine,” added Inga Andreieva, General Manager of Mastercard Ukraine and Moldova.
In addition to basic information, the app now provides voiced-over dynamic content, including block descriptions, notifications about incorrect data entry, etc. The interface elements have been optimized for better contrast, while the text remains clear and the layout maintains its integrity even when enlarged in the device's settings. Additionally, clickable areas within the app’s interactive elements have been enlarged for easier interaction. This update also introduces a dark theme for the app, addressing one of the most requested features from passengers.
Improvements to the mobile application were made in accordance with recommendations, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to enhance accessibility and ease of use for individuals with vision impairments.
Ukrainian Railways, in partnership with Mastercard, launched its mobile app for tickets sales and passenger information in August 2022. Over two years, the app has registered more than 2.845 million passengers and sold over 16.6 million tickets.