26.02.20
£20m government funding to make 124 stations more accessible across GB
Announced today (Feb 26th) by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, disabled passengers across GB are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at approximately 124 stations.
The funding comes from the Access for All programme and will include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens and follows a new campaign launched this week, aiming to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport.
Since 2006, the Access for All programme has made more than 200 stations step free and delivered smaller scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,500 others to improve passenger experience.
The £20m funding announced today is part of a £300m package announced last year that has already provided accessible routes at 73 stations across GB, improving the travel experience for disabled passengers on the UK’s rail network.
Mr. 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
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.”
READ MORE: Government campaign launched to increase inclusivity on public transport