Government railway station change aiming to improve safety

As reported by the Daily Mirror, the Government’s newly announced strategy to purchase trains will mean that publicly-run trains will be designed with level boarding, helping to improve accessibility and making it easier for passengers to use.

The proposed strategy could include purchasing trains which are the same height as the platforms on certain routes, or adding automatic platforms to reduce the gap between the train door and the platform.

Aiming to make trains more accessible for customers, the changes would strive to help disabled passengers, older customers, parents with pushchairs, and those carrying luggage enjoy a more comfortable journey.

The changes are not anticipated to add costs to journeys, as the trains will be specifically designed to provide unassisted level boarding at the standard Network Rail platform heights.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “Great British Railways trains will be level boarding by default. Everyone should be able to travel on the train easily, and we are making that a reality with level boarding as the baseline expectation for new trains under Great British Railways.

“This is just one way we are returning our railways to the service of passengers.”

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James Barber, Interim CEO at Transport for All, said: “Our railways should connect us with the people and places that matter, and give us the freedom to say yes to opportunities and enjoy our lives.

“But for many disabled people, the gap between the platform edge and the train is a barrier between us and where we want to be. The Government’s commitment to level boarding on new trains on Great British Railways is a welcome step towards breaking those barriers down.

"We hope it is a sign that a public railway, run in the interests of its passengers, will be serious about tackling accessibility failures that have been allowed to persist for too long.”

What do you think about the proposed changes to railway platforms? Let us know in the comments.