A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are carrying out a comprehensive review into our Access for All schemes so we can better deliver for our passengers [...] we are so sorry for the delays to these projects and we are working as hard as we can to get them back on track.”
A lacklustre and unaccountable statement from Network Rail stated that 'plans fell short of where we wanted them to be for a variety of reasons.’ This fails to recognise that this significant issue means those who have a range of disabilities may be in for a much longer wait to get to their local rail station - a further setback for the aims of equality in accessing rail services.
Stephen Brookes, DR UK Rail Policy Adviser, says ‘It is clear that Access for All has been a failure mainly because it has not seen a dedicated, centrally controlled delivery team working on it - there is only peripheral interest in accessibility from the industry’s leadership. It’s time for such matters to change.’