Government funding to improve disability access at rail stations

A new £300million Access for All fund will improve disability access at railway stations.

The fund will improve disability access through the creation of features including new lifts and bridges. Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani announced the funding which will be shared across 73 railway stations.

The work will be completed across five years and several other stations will see improvements such as adjustable ticket counters. The upgrades are also expected to make travel easier for people with other issues such as heavy luggage or those travelling with children.

Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Keith Richards said: “The Access for All programme has already delivered significant improvements in access to rail travel for disabled people over the last 13 years. It’s crucial to continually build on that.”

“The announcement is very welcome and must go hand-in-hand with clear and practical information to ensure that disabled people are aware of what improvements have been made, and that more travel options are now possible as a result.”

“We are working with the government to deliver a commitment to accelerate improvements, to target the funding effectively, and to monitor and assess outcomes.”

A further 1,500 stations will also receive smaller improvements such as accessible toilets and adaptations to help people with sensory impairments. Many stations have already been overhauled, with an estimated 75% of all journeys using step-free stations.

The Access for All programme was started to improve access to different forms of transport for disabled people and has so far completed improvements on 200 stations. The Government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy aims to create a transport system offering equal access for all passengers.

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