More new promises for easier rail travel

THE Government has promised to publish its first “robust” national strategy to improve the accessibility of the rail network.

The pledge came in its new white paper, which aims to transform the railways in Great Britain.

The white paper – which the Government is calling the WilliamsShapps Plan for Rail – promises to have more fully accessible trains and stations.

At present, only about one in five stations have step-free access to all platforms, according to the white paper.

The plan promises that real-time updates on station accessibility will be rolled out at stations, on trains and directly to passengers through third-party providers, which will help people know whether lifts are working, how busy a service may be and where the most accessible point of a platform is.

Mobile app

Meanwhile, the rail industry has launched its much-delayed Passenger Assistance mobile phone app.

Although the app will offer passengers the choice to request assistance, update their own details and review their journeys, it has been criticised for failing to allow disabled passengers to book a ticket or a wheelchair space at the same time as they book assistance.

In June, the rail industry was served with a blunt warning from Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris to start fulfilling your legal commitments to disabled passengers.

Heaton-Harris, also responsible for transport accessibility issues, said it was bizarre that there were still trains on the rail network that were not accessible to disabled people.