The government has doubled the funding allocated to improve access at railway stations.
The Access for All Mid-Tier programmes has had a budget increase from £17m to £37.5m - a significant increase which will prove beneficial to all the many different people that use train services.
Rail Minister Norman Baker said, “Rail journeys don’t start and end at the carriage door. For many people – whether they are elderly, disabled or parents with prams –getting from the station entrance and on to the train can be the hardest part of their trip.”
The upgrades will include new lifts, ramps and raised ‘easy access humps’ on platforms as well as new accessible toilets.
Norman Baker added,” We are also adding £2m a year to the current 35m allocated each year to train operating companies which will be used to fund more minor works and releasing £57m of funding earlier than planned to Network Rail so that they can accelerate the delivery of the main Access for All programme.
Network Rail will also receive funding to add tactile edge paving at 27 stations and £5m to provide ‘easy access humps’ at a number of stations which will help to reduce the stepping distance between the platform and the train.
The station improvements are being funded as part of the Department for Transport's Access for All scheme which is due to be completed by March 2014.