HomePeopleDfT commits £300m to improving railway station accessibility

DfT commits £300m to improving railway station accessibility

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The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed up to £300 million for its Access for All programme to create obstacle free, accessible routes from station entrances to platforms.

Funding was announced together with the DfT’s Inclusive Transport Strategy as it introduces new measures to improve accessibility across all types of travel for disabled passengers.

League tables ranking operators on the quality of the service they give to disabled passengers will be introduced and the Rail Delivery Group will be tasked with improving the Passenger Assist system that they use to book assistance.

Train operators will be held accountable for delivering this service and compensating passengers if the booked assistance is not provided.

New measures – which also include raising awareness and more staff training – will help to make transport fully accessible for all passengers by 2030.


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Transport accessibility minister Nusrat Ghani said the strategy is the first step in achieving a genuinely inclusive transport network.

She added: “Transport is at the heart of how we live our lives. It helps us get to work, stay in touch with friends and family, and access vital services like healthcare and education.

“But for our ageing population and the fifth of people who are disabled, access to transport can be far from straightforward.”

Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Keith Richards added: “As a “critical friend” we will hold the government to account for delivering the strategy and for securing good outcomes for disabled people.”

The Inclusive Transport Strategy follows the Accessibility Action Plan consultation which received more than 1,000 responses.


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