Access for All

Transport

More than 30 protesters, including Heidi Alexander and wheelchair-users, with placards about access in front of a sign for Hither Green station

July 26, 2018 0

Figures finally show how government slashed spending on rail access scheme

New figures released through the Freedom of Information Act have exposed how the government has slashed spending on its rail station access improvement programme over the last five years. The figures show spending on the Access for All scheme fell from as much as £81.1 million in 2013-14 to just £14.6 million last year.

Transport

June 28, 2018 0

Minister lauds £600,000 for rail access… after her department confirms £47 million in cuts

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A transport minister has announced £600,000 funding for seven digital projects to help disabled passengers access rail travel, days after her department confirmed another minister had rubber-stamped tens of millions of pounds in cuts to a separate rail access scheme. Nusrat Ghani, the transport accessibility minister, said this week that the seven “innovative, high-tech

Transport

October 12, 2017 0

DPOs call on transport secretary to restore Access for All funding

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Disabled campaigners and their allies have called on the transport secretary to restore “vital” government funding for projects to improve access to rail stations across England, Wales and Scotland. In a letter signed by more than 50 organisations, Transport for All (TfA) – which campaigns for an accessible transport system – calls on Chris

Transport

Three wheelchair-users sitting behind a table with microphones

December 15, 2016

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Industry and government fight over blame for damage to ‘turn up and go’ rail rights

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Staffing cuts across the rail industry – forced on train companies by the government – are damaging the rights of disabled passengers to catch trains without having to book assistance in advance, according to campaigners. The user-led accessible transport charity Transport for All (TfA) said the Department for Transport (DfT) was embedding such cuts

Transport

Mark Carne sitting at a table talking to Francesca Martinez

July 14, 2016

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Martinez’s shock over access cuts call as she launches Network Rail campaign

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A disabled comedian and activist signed up by Network Rail to launch its new access campaign has criticised its chair after discovering that he called on the government to slash funding to make stations more accessible. Francesca Martinez, who has campaigned against government cuts to support for disabled people, was “shocked” when told by

Transport

June 23, 2016

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Rise in disabled train passenger numbers sparks call for ‘turn up and go’ system

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New government figures show that the number of disabled people travelling by train has increased sharply in the last year. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) statistics show that disabled people were assisted to use a train 1 146, 000 times in 2015-16, an increase of 7.7 per cent on the previous year

Transport

May 5, 2016

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Campaigners call on minister to reject rail access funding delay

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Campaigners have called on the transport secretary to ignore recommendations from the head of Network Rail that would delay tens of millions of pounds of investment in making rail stations more accessible. The seven organisations, headed by the user-led charity Transport for All, are furious that Sir Peter Hendy (pictured), the chair of Network

Transport

April 7, 2016

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Rail access improvements set for delays… along with nearly £50 million funding

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Funding for the government’s main programme to improve access at rail stations is set to be nearly halved over the next four years, with up to 20 access improvement schemes likely to be postponed. The delays were hidden on page 138 of a 172-page report by Sir Peter Hendy (pictured), the new chair of Network

Benefits and Poverty

December 5, 2014 0

Osborne’s autumn statement shows ‘total disregard’ for disabled people

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This week’s autumn statement – the last before the general election – demonstrates the government’s “total disregard” for disabled people, say campaigners. George Osborne’s speech to MPs omitted any mention of disabled people, but there was also no mention of disability by any MP in the subsequent cross-party debate. This meant that the government’s

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