Rail stations across Great Britain receive £20 million funding boost for accessibility improvements

Disabled passengers across Great Britain are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at 124 stations thanks to a £20 million government fund.

The enhancements announced by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps are funded through the Access for All programme and will include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens.

It comes as a new government campaign launched this week to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The ability to travel easily from A to B is an essential factor for our day to day lives – but is not the reality for everyone.

“I recognise that we have much more to do, which is why we’re making 124 train stations across the country more accessible – a key part of levelling-up access for disabled people to transport and opening up opportunities for all.

“This is just the start of a much more ambitious agenda. My goal is to go much further in the years ahead to help ensure that our country’s transport system becomes one of the most accessible in the world.”

These improvements are being made through the Access for All programme which, since 2006, has already made more than 200 stations step free, as well as delivered smaller scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,500 others to improve passenger experience.

The £20 million is part of a £300 million package announced last year which is already providing accessible, step free routes at 73 stations across Great Britain, making it easier for disabled people to travel on the UK’s rail network.

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said: “Everyone using our rail network deserves platforms and toilets they can use and this £20 million investment to improve 124 railway stations across the country will make a huge difference to disabled people.

“This government is committed to levelling up the playing field and later this year we’ll launch a national strategy which will ensure disabled people have equal access to all spheres of life.”

This follows the launch of the it’s everyone’s journey advertising campaign to highlight how we can all play a part in making public transport inclusive. The campaign is being supported by more than 100 partners, including First Group, WHSmith Travel and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Department for Transport research has shown that behaviours that make public transport a daunting place for disabled people are often unconscious, such as not looking out for a fellow passenger who might need a seat or be in distress.

‘it’s everyone’s journey’ will raise awareness about the needs of disabled people when using public transport, particularly people with non-visible impairments, and will also prompt members of the public to think and consider how their behaviour might impact others.

Alongside this, the department has also launched its Inclusive Transport Leaders scheme, an accreditation scheme which will encourage, celebrate and promote best practice in inclusive transport.

Operators, such as bus and train companies, are encouraged to sign up to the Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme, where they will work towards one of three accreditation levels by demonstrating the steps they have taken to improve the travelling experiences of disabled passengers, older people, and those with reduced mobility.

These improvements form part of the wider Inclusive Transport Strategy and supports the government’s ambition of achieving equal access for all on public transport.

The stations to benefit from the funding are:

North West

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Accrington
Ainsdale
Aintree
Altrincham Interchange
Aughton Park
Bache
Bank Hall
Bebington
Belle Vue
Bidston
Birkdale
Birkenhead central
Birkenhead North
Birkenhead Park
Blundellsands & Crosby[/one_fifth][one_fifth padding=”0 10px 0 10px”]

Bolton
Bootle New Strand
Bramhall
Bredbury
Broad Green
Bromborough Rake
Bromley Cross
Brunswick
Chassen Road
Davenport
Ellesmere Port
Fairfield
Farnworth
Fazakerley
Formby

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Hall Road
Hamilton Square
Heald Green
Heaton Chapel
Hightown
Hillside
Hooton
Hoylake
Humphrey Park
Hunts Cross
James Street
Kearsley
Kirkby
Kirkdale
Leasowe

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Liverpool Central (Northern Line)
Liverpool South Parkway
Lostock
Maghull
Middlewood
Moorfields
Moorside
Moses Gate
New Brighton
Old Roan
Ormskirk
Orrell Park
Overpool
Prescot

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Rice Lane
Rock Ferry
Romiley
Rose Hill
Ryder Brow
Sandhills
Seaforth and Litherland
Southport
Town Green
Trafford Park
Wallasey Grove Road
Wallasey Village
Walton
Waterloo
West Kirby
Westhoughton[one_fifth_last][/one_fifth_last]

East/East Midlands

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Bury St Edmunds
Colchester North
Narborough
Needham Market

London

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Barking
Chessington South
Ealing Broadway
Hackney Downs
Kew Bridge
Surbiton
West Croydon

South East

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Deal
High Brooms
Totton
Wivelsfield

South West

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Dorchester South
Freshford
Lawrence Hill
Lostwithiel
Nailsea & Backwell

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Parson Street
Patchway
Severn Beach
Stapleton Road
Yate

West Midlands

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Lichfield Trent Valley
Wolverhampton

Yorkshire and the Humber

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Barnetby
Darnall
Darton
Dodworth
Elsecar
Horton in Ribblesdale
Hull Paragon
Kiveton Bridge
Kiveton Park
Malton
Penistone
Pontefract Monkhill
Silkstone Common
Thirsk
Thorne South
Woodhouse

Scotland

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Anderston

Wales

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Grangetown
Llantwit Major
Neath
Pontypool & New Inn

Photo credit: nampix/Shutterstock