Everyone gets caught out sometimes. It’s always the day you don't grab your umbrella that it starts to rain, always the day your phone dies that you neglect to bring a charger, and always the day you start your period that you forgot the necessary supplies. Whilst rail provider LNER can’t keep a spare pair of your keys onboard, they have announced that sanitary products will now be freely available on their trains for anyone who needs them.
The products provided will come from TOTM, who create sustainable, eco-friendly menstrual goods. Kiley Yale, who leads the brand’s scheme to make more workplaces ‘period positive’ explained that the move will improve ‘comfort, wellbeing and dignity across their trains, stations and offices.’ She continued that it was great to see the group, ‘leading the way in not only supporting periods but also doing this in an environmentally friendly way.’
If you do find yourself in need of a pad or tampon while onboard an LNER train, you have a couple of options: either ask a member of staff, or order them directly to your seat using a QR code. In a world of scary AI and deep-fakes, it’s refreshing to see technology be used for good. The future really is here, and it’s taking the form of table-service period products.
LNER say they hope offering this service will ‘help the planet, and break down barriers and stigma.’ Lofty aims for a lowly train company, but it’s difficult to critique anyone who’s making access to wellbeing easier. Let’s hope that more transport groups follow suit, and that some day soon we’ll live in a perfect utopia where no one has to awkwardly ask every woman in a fifty-yard radius if they’ve got a spare tampon.
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