Northern mayors call for greater rail access

Regeneration bosses have called for urgent investment in the North’s railway stations following a report by Transport for the North (TfN) highlighting widespread inaccessibility.

The report, based on feedback from more than 2000 passengers, found that fewer than half of Northern stations have step-free access and more than 60 per cent lack fully accessible waiting shelters.

TfN’s findings also revealed nearly a quarter of stations lack public address systems and over half are unstaffed, making travel more difficult and unsafe, particularly for women and girls.

Northern political leaders are now urging the Government to match their commitment to improving station accessibility and safety – and to devolve budgets so decisions can be made locally.

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester and chair of the TfN’s Rail North Committee, has written to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander asking for an additional £400 million over five years to help tackle the issues.

Mayor Burnham said: “Accessibility is key. 

“A rail network has to be for everybody. 

“The simple ability to get around is a right that should be available to all our communities. 

“We have tactile paving in our urban spaces and step-free access in key public buildings, and we need that accessibility extended to our whole rail network. 

“Without that we close off opportunities to lots of our people and businesses. 

“We are calling on the Government to address these accessibility challenges and create a more inclusive rail network for all rail passengers to use. 

“If it works for the Northern economy, it benefits the national economy too.” 

Mayor Burnham received support from North East mayor Kim McGuinness, who added: “Everyone should be able to travel with confidence, and it is so important that transport networks improve accessibility without delay to make this a reality across the board. 

“Our own North East Metro system was the first in the UK to have step-free access throughout and tactile paving on every platform, as well as having a network of more than 500 digital CCTV cameras which is particularly reassuring for those travelling at night. 

“The national rail system lags decades behind and we need to fix this so everyone can travel with ease and dignity.  

“We need devolution of our stations and rail networks so that we can bring the standard up right across the UK, accessibility should be at the heart of every network alongside safety – particularly for vulnerable groups and women and girls.” 

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