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Campaigners have warned transport secretary Mark Harper that “discriminatory” plans to remove guards from trains, cut staff and close ticket offices will prevent many disabled passengers travelling on the rail network and put lives at risk. The National Federation of the […]
A leading expert on accessible transport has quit his role as a government adviser after accusing ministers of backing policies on de-staffing the rail network that discriminate against disabled rail passengers, and ignoring his committee’s advice. Matthew Smith, a key member […]
Disabled campaigners have raised fresh fears for the future of accessible rail travel, after reports that the government plans to close most train station ticket offices as part of a continuing programme of cuts. A national newspaper reported on Sunday that […]
Campaigners have called on the equality watchdog to take “urgent action” to prevent an “escalating human rights crisis” for disabled passengers, caused by staffing issues on Britain’s rail system. They say reports that the government plans mass ticket office closures mean […]
The government’s own advisers on accessible transport have raised serious concerns about plans to install inaccessible vertical bike racks in the carriages that will be used on the HS2 high speed railway. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) has told […]
The government’s advisers on accessible transport have told ministers they do not believe that their proposals for reforming the rail system will be enough to deliver an accessible railway. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) says in its response to a public […]
Staffing levels on a section of the rail network are “completely inadequate to deliver an accessible railway”, according to a report by the government’s own accessible transport advisers. The Rail Workforce Reform report by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) […]
Parts of the rail network are set to become even more inaccessible to many disabled people if the government presses ahead with proposals to close all ticket offices in England, campaigners have warned. The Sunday Times reported this week that plans […]
Campaigners have warned the government of the vital importance of choosing a disabled person to head its influential committee of advisers on accessible transport. The warning comes as the committee is set to assume an important new role as part of […]
The government’s own advisory committee is set to publish a string of controversial reports that have previously been kept secret, and which could expose years of ministerial failings on accessible transport. The reports and other documents drawn up by the Disabled […]