Access for All – nominated stations
- Julian Vaughan
- Jul 17, 2024
- 3 min read
On 24th May 2024, the government announced the 50 stations set to benefit from the £350 million of funding for step-free access as part of the funding settlement for Control Period 7 (2024-2029). You can find the full list here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railway-stations-awarded-access-for-all-accessibility-funding/railway-stations-awarded-access-for-all-accessibility-funding *South Croydon makes an appearance in this list, even though it was actually awarded funding in the March 2020 budget.
As part of the campaign team, I was delighted that Leagrave station in Luton was on the list, I was intrigued by the mention of the 310 stations that were nominated for funding (either by train operating companies, Network Rail or combined authorities) but ultimately were not successful.
I therefore lodged a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Department for Transport asking for the names of these stations. The data contained in the response to this request is set out in the list of stations below.
Disappointingly, my local station Arlesey, a station with step-free access to each platform, but without vital cross-platform access (which basically means the station is not suitable for independent travel) was not on the list and therefore had not been nominated.
An explanation of platform categories created by the office for Rail and Road is set out below. All train companies must provide the public with this information and grade their stations A, B or C:
The Office for Rail and Road (ORR) also provides a sub-category for category B platforms. While it is not mandatory for train companies to provide this information, it is recommended.
Arlesey station is classified as a B2 station – some step-free access to all platforms, but with no cross-platform access. The 310 nominated stations in the FOI response are listed below. The stations highlighted in red were awarded funding in May 2024.
I have been told by a rail industry insider that the Department for Transport call for nominations letter for this round of funding stated: “Priority will be given to stations that currently have no access to and between platforms over stations where this is possible, even if the existing route is not ideal.”
There are several anomalies in the above table and I see it as a ‘live’ document; some stations are not classified at all, contravening the ORR’s Accessible Travel Policy guidance, some stations have conflicting guidance between the data on the National Rail Enquiries website and the Rail Delivery Group’s ‘Access Map’ and most disappointingly some stations such as Battersea Park and Peckham Rye were awarded funding way back in 2014 and are still awaiting step-free access.
A letter to the then Minister of State for Transport to the then Chair of the Transport Select Committee sets out the criteria for the selection process for nominated stations. It should be noted that there is no limit to the number of nominations a stakeholder such as a Train Operating Company can put forward.
I am happy to discuss any of the above with disability activists from across the country, particularly relating to the nominated stations in the above list and those stations for which campaigns took place, but were not successful. What the list does set out is that there is a very long way to go before we achieve anything resembling an accessible rail network in the UK. It should be one of our top priorities. I have yet to see any evidence that it will be.
Julian Vaughan
17th July 2024
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