Around one in four rail journeys still involve at least one station that does not have step-free access, the Government has admitted.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has published an update on progress under its Inclusive Strategy (ITS) over the last year.
Officials highlighted a further £50m, covering 12 rail stations, was added to the Access for All station improvements programme in the Budget this year.
The annual update also notes that Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) guidance was published in July 2019 ‘included enhanced requirements on all operators to deliver an accessible travel policy’ (ATP). Since then the Office of Rail of Road (ORR) has approved ‘several’ ATPs submitted by train operators.
All train operators are also in the process of creating a disability awareness training package with ‘a number of train operators’ having started delivery.
However, with little progress made in actual 'inclusive physical infrastructure', the DfT resorted to re-announcing aspects of the previous reporting period.
The DfT revealed that more than 75% of rail journeys are through stations with step-free access, compared with around 50% in 2005.
In April 2019, the DfT also stated that ‘75% of rail journeys [are] now made through step-free stations’, with ‘more than 200 accessible routes into selected stations so far’.
And in a press release on Tuesday, the DfT said: ‘The department’s Access for All programme has now provided 200 stations with better access across Great Britain.’
The DfT cited the naming in April 2019 of the original 73 stations to benefit from £300m pledged for Control Period 6 (2019-2024) under the Access for All programme as progress during both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Of 114 stations due to be upgraded by 2024, 51 were due to take place in Control Period 5, with 27 deferred and work on a further 24 having started in CP5.
Having launched the Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme earlier this year, the DfT announced the first companies to receive accreditation.
Brighton and Hove Buses and Hovertravel have achieved the highest status as ‘Leaders’, with Network Rail and Arriva Kent and Surrey receiving ‘Committed’ status.
The DfT has also launched the Accessible Technology Research and Innovation Grant (A-TRIG), which will invest up to £500,000 in projects that aim to improve access to services or inspire more confidence to travel.
Officials said such projects could provide a range of practical solutions that remove physical barriers, make it easier to access information, automate processes or see better support for travellers.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘I want to harness the power of technology to improve accessibility for disabled people through COVID and beyond. Today’s funding will play a key role by finding new and innovative ideas and projects to break down barriers and could make a massive difference to people’s lives.’
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