Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Shorter journeys in South and West Wales => Topic started by: Chris from Nailsea on October 27, 2010, 14:30:03



Title: Disabled access to Wales' rail stations criticised
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on October 27, 2010, 14:30:03
From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11632230):

Quote
More than half of Wales' rail stations are not fully accessible to disabled people, according to a report.

The Welsh assembly equality of opportunity committee issued the findings, highlighting "significant shortcomings", and calling for action.

Arriva Trains Wales, which runs most of Wales' stations, said it was committed to improving access.

...

The report acknowledges that the assembly government does not have full control over the rail infrastructure in Wales, due to it being owned by Network Rail, operated by Arriva Trains Wales and controlled by the UK Government's Department for Transport.

However, it calls on ministers to use the powers under the Railways Act 2005 to finance further improvement initiatives and to influence the UK Government when it sets the next round of targets for Network Rail.

...

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We are currently working with the industry to invest around ^85m to improve stations in Wales by 2014, and part of that includes funding from Department for Transport to improve disabled access.

"Stations in Prestatyn, Wrexham, Bridgend and Severn Tunnel Junction are among those set to benefit. We share the aspiration to make even more railway stations accessible and we welcome further support from the government to help us achieve that."

Disabled rail passengers can get help planning their journey via the Journey Care Helpline on 0845 300 3005.



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net