Campaigners at Byker charity Skills for People have said a bigger security presence on the Tyne and Wear Metro has made it feel safer for people with disabilities to travel in the evenings.
New security staff were stationed on trains throughout the evening starting over the recent Bank Holiday, and North Shields woman Catherine Hope - who herself has lived experience of learning disabilities and has been on the wrong end of bullying - said the boosted security operation helped give her peace of mind.
She said knowing security would be around helped make public transport more accessible to those with disabilities. She said this was due to knowing that the security staff deter antisocial behaviour and bullying.
