Despite the fact that only 452 of the 2533 UK railway stations have currently step free access, the Government has cut Access for All funding by nearly a half (42%) between 2015 and 2019, according to Transport for All.
Launched in 2006, Access for All is part of the Railways for All strategy to address the issues faced by disabled passengers using railway stations in Great Britain. Its aim is to improve accessibility at train stations nationwide by installing lifts and ramps.
Access for All funding will drop from £43 million annually between 2006 and 2015 to £25 million per year between 2015 and 2019. While the Access for All funding was £388m for the nine-year period between 2006 and 2015, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced only £100m between 2015 and 2019.
The Government's 'Equality 2025' target for transport is for disabled people to have access to transportation on an equal basis with others. Transport for All said that reducing funding for access risks setting back transport equality yet again:
"Cutting funding for rail access is not only a kick in the teeth to disabled and older passengers. It's also a foolish measure that flies in the face of Department for Transport's own valuations of the economic benefit of the programme.The evidence is clear: station access improvements, whether lifts, signage or gateline upgrades, benefit all passengers and result in increased footfall and ticket sales. Indeed Department for Transport's own cost-benefit analysis show a 'conservative estimate' of £2.9 of benefit for every £1 invested in the Access for All scheme.
It's high time that the UK followed the example of other European countries and ensured that the rail companies as well as government fund access improvements. We believe access improvements need to be written into franchise agreements so that train companies are compelled to invest in a railway that is open to all."
For more inforamtion see: http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/government-slashes-access-for-all...