Tube announcement voice will be different this week at some stations - here's why

Dame Tracey Emin is urging people to give up their seats in new London Tube announcements which aim to raise awareness of non-visible disabilities. The artist's announcements mark Transport for London's (TfL) annual Priority Seating Week, when travellers are encouraged to look around in case someone is in greater need of a seat. Dame Tracey, 62, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020 and underwent life-saving surgery that involved a urostomy and she now lives with a stoma bag. She said: "Through my own experiences of cancer, which led me to having a stoma, I know just how much of an impact a health condition or disability can have on something like standing on a train. "Any one of us can have a health condition or disability, and because many of these don't have outward cues, that might mean people miss out on things that would really help them, like getting a seat on public transport. You will hear Tracey's voice if you travel to a group of 10 stations -Credit:© 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved "If you're out and about in London, please do offer your seat if you don't need it yourself – you never know what a difference you could make." The announcement, that echoes TfL's reminder that not all health conditions are visible, will be played at 10 Central London Underground stations including Bank, Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street, as well as at several bus stations, until May 17. Giovanni Cinque, campaigns manager at Colostomy UK, said difficulties on public transport are not always visible but can be "distressing", and "a small act of kindness like offering a seat can have a significant impact". TfL's Priority Seating Week, now in its eighth year, will also be marked with events across the network and the introduction of stickers on DLR train doors to highlight accessibility bays. Staff at Ealing Broadway, Ilford, Paddington, Romford and Woolwich Elizabeth Line stations will be handing out "Please Offer Me A Seat", "Baby on Board" and "Babies on Board" badges to customers who need them. Emma Strain, TfL's customer director, said Londoners can "always be more mindful" of people with disabilities when they travel. "Disabilities and health conditions can affect anyone and vary from person to person, impacting people in ways we might not expect – and in many cases you simply can't tell someone has one just from their appearance," she said. Dame Tracey is currently exhibiting her largest ever collection of her work at the Tate Modern. The A Second Life exhibition looks back at her 40-year-career, including defining work, like the controversial 1998 installation My Bed, along with pieces that have never been exhibited publicly before.