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3d ago

UK Ministers Defend Retention of EU Accessibility Rule Blocking Lift Installations at Small Stations

Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirms no plans to remove the exemption, as campaigners intensify calls for equitable access to rail travel.

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There are at least 500 stations that meet the average daily footfall measure but still have no provision for disabled passengers
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Overview

  • A 2014 EU regulation retained post-Brexit exempts stations with fewer than 1,000 daily passengers or within 31 miles of an accessible station from mandatory lift installations.
  • Approximately 1,500 of the UK's 2,500 mainline stations fall under this exemption, leaving many without step-free access for disabled passengers.
  • Harlington station exemplifies the issue, with no step-free access and wheelchair users facing a two-hour alternative journey for a 12-minute train ride.
  • The Department for Transport argues the rule allows design flexibility during upgrades and requires provisions for future lift installations, citing over 260 step-free routes delivered through its Access for All programme.
  • Disability advocates, including Julian Vaughan and Sarah Gayton, criticize the government for maintaining the rule, calling it a barrier to equitable rail access.