Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Railway Stations: Accessibility

Thursday 21 November 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Cooper asked about steps to improve accessibility of railway stations for disabled people.
  • The minister responded that improving station accessibility is a core principle in fixing the rail system.
  • The minister acknowledged the missed opportunity for Northwich station and committed to improving accessibility through the Access for All programme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Cooper Lab Mid Cheshire
Transport
Context

No specific incident or statistic mentioned, but the general issue is addressed.

Question

What steps she is taking to improve the accessibility of railway stations for disabled people. Ensure rail services and facilities are accessible to all, a core principle in fixing Britain's broken rail system.

Answer from Mike Kane

Ensuring that rail services and facilities are accessible to all is a core principle of our plan to fix Britain's broken rail system. The Department is carefully considering the best approach to station accessibility, recognising its huge social and economic benefits to communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or timeline for improving station accessibility.

How: Under Consideration

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Andrew Cooper Lab Mid Cheshire
Transport
Context

Northwich station collapsed in 2021, an Access for All application was submitted but not acted upon by the last government. The station has been rebuilt without those accessibility improvements.

Question

After Northwich station collapsed in 2021, an Access for All application was submitted to add step-free access to the Chester-bound platform. Unfortunately, that opportunity was missed by the last Government. What steps can be taken to ensure that stations such as Northwich see improvements while we wait for GBR to get up and running?

Answer from Mike Kane

First, I thank my hon. Friend for picking up the baton on Northwich station—we all remember the terrible situation when the canopy collapsed. This Government are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway, recognising its huge social and economic benefits. The Access for All programme will deliver 32 step-free stations this financial year, the most since that programme started. Anyone unable to use a station in the meantime can book alternative transport with the operator at no additional cost.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or timeline for improving accessibility at Northwich specifically.

How: Under Consideration

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email