Amongst the changes we are on record as saying are essential is reducing the number of different mobile phone apps that Disabled people must use to book assistance, a wheelchair space and a ticket for their rail journeys, a lack of consistency in train design; and the lack of reliable, accurate information on whether facilities such as station lifts and accessible toilets are actually working.
Now DRUK are pleased to note that Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy brought each of these long overdue changes to make rail accessible to the attention of the House of Lords adding that he was ashamed of the way the rail industry treated passengers who need assistance.
Disability Rights UK Rail Policy Adviser Stephen Brookes said ‘At last there really is hope that the simple and effective changes we have recommended for years will soon be reflected in the way that disabled passengers will be treated as respected paying passengers and not ‘objects causing problems’.
Stephen has regularly complained that Disabled people’s voices had been ignored by the train operating companies working in silos leading to chaos and unreliable support and services and with many Disabled people reporting disrupted or poor services.
He noted that as well as promising to improve assistance, Lord Hendy proposed an amendment to the government’s passenger railway services (public ownership) bill, which would amend the Equality Act to make it clear that publicly owned train companies are subject to the act’s public sector equality duty.
Stephen also noted that Hendy made clear that the government would begin to work with Disabled people to explain the actions we intend to take to improve things for Disabled people or others requiring assistance in advance of GBR being set up.
We will be writing to the Minister to make the case for DR UK involvement in future consultations.