Category: disability

How the rail industry’s access map lost its way – and how to get it back on track

*** Update 5th March 2021 *** Following the publication of this blog Northern have been in touch and have now amended the descriptions of the stations mentioned below. However, a brief look at other stations across the Northern franchise reveals numerous examples of inaccurate information and there remains much to be done across this and … Continue reading How the rail industry’s access map lost its way – and how to get it back on track →

Biggleswade Step-Free Update – 18th January 2021

I've just come out of the latest meeting regarding step-free access at Biggleswade station. The latest developments are as follows: ~ following a previous meeting with our Bedfordshire Rail Access Network team I'm delighted to say that Network Rail have increased the width of the proposed walkway ramp to 2.2 metres (2 metres between hand … Continue reading Biggleswade Step-Free Update – 18th January 2021 →

Biggleswade access improvements hit the buffers

Unfortunately, I have little positive to say from today's meeting to discuss progress on step-free access at Biggleswade station. Unless things change and change quickly, there is a very real possibility that Biggleswade could become another 'Luton' and face endless delays while each party waits for everyone else to act - a reminder that Luton … Continue reading Biggleswade access improvements hit the buffers →

Rail ‘Access Map’ takes the wrong route

In April 2019 the UK rail industry, through the Rail Delivery Group, proudly announced the launch of its new interactive accessibility map. The aim of this map is to improve accessibility information for passengers - and increase the confidence of passengers with disabilities to travel by train. The map can be found here http://accessmap.nationalrail.co.uk/ Unfortunately, … Continue reading Rail ‘Access Map’ takes the wrong route →

Disabled people let down by ‘tick box’ attitude to Accessibility

Listening to Nusrat Ghani during the Westminster Hall debate earlier this week discussing the lack of step-free access at Flitwick station, I was struck by how the 'tick box' mentality still remains when dealing with accessibility issues. Ms Ghani MP, who is Under Secretary of State for Transport, pointed out that six out of the … Continue reading Disabled people let down by ‘tick box’ attitude to Accessibility →

Flitwick Step-Free Access – Westminster Hall Debate

My brief notes below from the Westminster Hall Debate that took place earlier this week regarding the lack of step-free access at Flitwick station: ~ Westminster Hall debates are an opportunity for MP's to raise local or national issues outside of the main chamber and receive a response from a government minister who is present … Continue reading Flitwick Step-Free Access – Westminster Hall Debate →

Labour must be bolder on Equal Access

Since the 'Access for All' funding scheme was first introduced by the previous Labour government in 2006, the progress of step-free access improvements on the UK railways has made somewhat stuttering progress. The 'Equality 2025' target was quietly dropped and replaced by the goal of achieving equal access for disabled people across the transport system … Continue reading Labour must be bolder on Equal Access →