Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted
Government’s rail reform consultation document shows weak focus on transport accessibility for disabled people.
Conclusion
We welcome the focus in the Government’s rail reform consultation paper on streamlining, consolidating and strengthening powers for protecting passenger interests, resolving complaints and monitoring rights and standards. However, the focus on accessibility in the consultation document appears relatively weak in comparison to the severity of the problem. It will be necessary for the passenger watchdog to have substantial expertise in and resources dedicated to accessibility and inclusion if it is to make a significant difference to the everyday experience of disabled travellers. We draw attention to our recommendation later in this report that the Department assess whether a single body with responsibility for enforcing the rights of disabled travellers across transport modes would be a more effective model for bringing about change than mode-specific and general passenger rights bodies. (Conclusion, Paragraph 96)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms the forthcoming Railways Bill will create a new passenger watchdog, which was proposed to have an explicit duty on accessibility for monitoring and advocating improvements, with the full consultation response due later this year.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The forthcoming Railways Bill will also create a new passenger watchdog. In the public consultation we proposed it would have an explicit duty on accessibility by monitoring how services are delivered to disabled passengers and advocating improvements where issues arise. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published later this year.