Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Adopt a rolling programme of rapid interventions for station accessibility upgrades.
Recommendation
Progress in implementing agreed accessibility upgrades at stations has been too halting, and delivery too slow and costly. The Department for Transport and its agencies and partners should consider adopting a different commissioning approach based on a rolling programme of rapid interventions, as opposed to individual station projects commissioned separately. By creating certainty and consistency for contractors, this should speed up delivery and lower costs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60)
Government Response Summary
The government is exploring adapting the Access for All programme to a longer-term, rolling programme to improve efficiency and delivery. It will also consider how regulators could be empowered to proactively enforce accessible design standards.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
52. The Access for All (AfA) programme delivers step free routes at selected stations. Selections are made through a national industry-led nomination process with Department for Transport and Network Rail evaluation to ensure that the funding budget is allocated fairly. 53. The Department is exploring adapting AfA to a longer-term, rolling programme to improve efficiency and delivery, while continuing to fund accessibility through existing station upgrade processes as the industry must comply with current accessibility standards whenever they install, replace or renew station infrastructure. 54. Accessibility improvements can be made whenever the industry installs, replaces or renews infrastructure work at stations as this must meet current accessibility standards. The Department will consider how regulators could be empowered to be more proactive in enforcing accessible design standards to make sure that they are applied consistently in practice.