UK railways ‘Access for All’ audit
- Julian Vaughan
- Sep 10, 2024
- 6 min read
This is a blog covering the status of the UK railway stations provided with ‘Access for All’ (AfA) funding to provide step-free access. The ‘Access for All’ funding programme aims to provide an accessible route onto and between railway station platforms and was launched in 2006.
Since its launch, step-free routes have been provided at approximately 200 stations. It is often quoted that more than 75% of rail journeys are now through stations with step-free access. I view this as misleading as by definition this figure includes non-disabled people and makes no reference to the thousands of railway platforms across the UK that remain ‘no-go’ areas for disabled people.
The information below is divided into three sections.
Stations awarded AfA funding in 2014 for Control Period 5 (2014-2019).
The 27 stations awarded AfA funding in 2014, but deferred as a result of the ‘Hendy Report’ to Control Period 6.
Stations awarded AfA funding in 2019 for Control Period 6 (2019-2024)
The results make for grim reading, and some stations will be waiting for well over a decade after their original funding was agreed. Read more about these stations here: http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/08/09/a-decade-of-step-free-delay/
Any errors are mine alone and I do regard the below as a ‘live’ document. Please feel free to get in touch with any corrections.
You are welcome to email me at: ukrailaccessnetwork@gmail.com
I have linked to sources where available and I provide further resources and further reading at the bottom of this post. Completed projects are highlighted in green.
Regarding the stations awarded funding in 2019 for Control Period 6. I understand that following a ‘deep dive’ review into ‘AfA’ projects by the Department for Transport, the deadline for unfinished stations has been extended from 2024 to March 2026.
There is much discussion about the affordability of providing an accessible rail network. I discuss this in this blog: http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/07/16/can-we-afford-not-to-have-an-accessible-railway/
On to the data, starting with the stations awarded funding in 2014.
How are stations awarded ‘Access for All’ funding in 2014 progressing?
How are stations awarded ‘Access for All’ funding in 2014, but then deferred to Control Period 6 (2019-2024) progressing?
How are stations awarded ‘Access for All’ funding in 2019 (Control Period 6) progressing?
Julian Vaughan
10th September 2024 – and amended on various dates up to 15th January 2025
Sources and Further Reading:
Control Period 5 AfA Announcement: 29th April 2014 https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2014-04-29/debates/14042933000010/AccessForAll(Funding)
Control Period 6 AfA Announcement: 4th April 2019 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/access-for-all-73-stations-set-to-benefit-from-additional-funding
Control Period 7 AfA Announcement: 29th May 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railway-stations-awarded-access-for-all-accessibility-funding
Starmer, Rail Accessibility and Tanni GT: 1st September 2024 http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/09/01/starmer-rail-accessibility-and-tanni-gt/
Access for All: Nominated stations for Control Period 7 – 310 were nominated, of which 50 were selected:http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/07/17/access-for-all-nominated-stations/
Actions, not words needed on rail accessibility: 30th April 2024 http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/04/30/actions-not-words-needed-on-rail-accessibility/
An open letter to Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines: http://julianvaughan.blog/2024/05/03/an-open-letter-to-network-rail-ceo-andrew-haines/
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