13

Department remains slow to deliver tangible rail accessibility improvements despite acknowledging the need.

Conclusion
We asked the Department about the passenger improvements it has made for disabled passengers and people who find accessibility an issue. The Department recognised that it needs to make sure the railway works for disabled passengers, and that accessibility is going to increase in importance with demographic changes. The Department told us that it will shortly be going out to consultation on a national rail accessibility strategy so that it can “…hear what people actually need, rather than us thinking that we know what they need.” The Department told us that, in some ways, it was “surprised” that it needed to make a commitment to review station accessibility.27 We shared with the Department the example of Leagrave station where a feasibility study for lifts and improvements has been undertaken but, years later, rail users are still waiting for action.28
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 11 July 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 2.3 yrs
Report published 27 May 2024