Campaigners demand ‘Accessibility Framework’ for Great British Railways

Disability rights campaigners and passenger groups have sent an open letter to the Secretary of State, demanding an ‘Accessibility Framework for Great British Railways.’

The letter is an urgent intervention to restore accessibility to the centre of the upcoming Railways Bill, after all of the previous government’s pledges were abandoned. It also challenges the government’s recent refusal of the Transport Committee’s request to conduct an overhaul of laws and regulations in this area.

The removal of accessibility duties from Great British Railways threatens to undo years of campaigning by disabled people, and ignores evidence of systemic discrimination across the network. We have therefore proposed a full ‘Accessibility Framework’ for the new legislation, which should now be considered the minimum expectation for rail reform.

Accessibility Framework for Great British Railways

PRIMARY LEGISLATION AND INVESTMENT

1. Public interest duties at the centre of GBR

2. Investment fund for accessible infrastructure

3. Deadlines for step-free access

   
   

REGULATORY REFORM

4. Equality standards for ticket retail and new technologies

5. Guarantee of Turn Up And Go Travel

6. Full staffing model for trains, stations and ticket offices

7. National Accessible Travel Policy

   
   

RIGHTS AND REPRESENTATION

8. New complaints body for disabled passengers

9. Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee as statutory advisor

10. Duties to consult disabled people

    
    

Organisations backing the demands include the Association of British Commuters, National Pensioners Convention, Disabled People Against Cuts, Transport for All, Inclusion London, Get Glasgow Moving, Transport Action Network, TSSA union, We Own It and Bring Back British Rail.

*[Since the publication of this Framework, it has also been signed by Disability Rights UK and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson).

The Framework is also backed by experts in rail accessibility, including: Ann Bates OBE, former government advisor in accessible transport; Anthony Jennings, Co-founder of the Campaign for Level Boarding; Julian Vaughan, Chair of the Bedfordshire Rail Access Network ; Doug Paulley, disability rights activist and researcher; Gareth Dennis, rail engineer and writer; Sarah Leadbetter, disability rights activist; and Sarah Gayton, Street Access campaign co-ordinator.

A detailed version of the Accessibility Framework is available in the open letter – DOWNLOAD HERE.