Disabled passengers face restrictions at nearly half of London rail stations

Nearly half of railway stations in London do not allow disabled passengers to travel freely, according to new research. Six major rail operators have staffing policies that mean people needing assistance to board trains in the capital face restrictions at up to 118 stations, data from the Association of British Commuters (ABC) shows. London Assembly Labour’s Transport spokesperson, Elly Baker AM, said Londoners are having accessibility services “cut from under them” and called for every London station to be “staffed, from the first train, to the last”. Ms Baker said that Transport for London's (TfL) accessibility policies prove that "modernisation and inclusivity can go hand in hand”.

 

Accessibility issues are caused by a combination of driver-only trains and unstaffed stations. Some stations have no step-free access. Those requiring assistance have to pre-book, wait for staff to arrive from another station to assist them, or find an alternative station. 

 

Research by ABC shows that up to 47% of London’s 252 rail stations serviced by c2c, Chiltern, Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Great Western Railway (GWR), and Southeastern do not allow disabled passengers to ‘turn-up and-go’. ABC define ‘turn-up-and-go’ as being where staff are present to allow disabled passengers who have just arrived at the station to board their train. 

 

According to ABC research driver-only trains and a lack of station staff means ‘turn-up-and-go’ assistance is never available at any of the 11 of the stations served by the six operators in Bexley (100%), or at the two stations in Barking & Dagenham (100%). In Greenwich disabled passengers face travel restrictions at 10 out of 12 stations (83%). In Bromley it is 20 out of 26 (77%), in Merton seven out of 11 (64%) and Lewisham 12 out of 20 (60%). 

 

All TfL Overground and Elisabeth Line stations offer a 'turn up and go' service. Ms Baker said that TfL's assistance policies should act as "an example" to the rest of the railway.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently negotiating proposals, including ticket office closures and reduced station staffing, with the rail industry. Earlier this month the Transport Select Committee launched an inquiry that will examine ways to make different modes of transport, public and private, more accessible to disabled people and those with access needs following pressure from campaigners.

 

Ms Baker joined campaign groups including ABC, the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK), Inclusion London and WinVisible at Downing Street to hand in a petition signed by 150 organisations calling for fair rail access for all. Campaigners want all ticket offices to remain open and for staffing levels at stations and on trains to be maintained and increased. 

 

It follows an intervention by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into rail staffing discrimination after an ABC campaign highlighted a potential breach of equality law due to insufficient staffing levels. 

 

London Assembly Labour’s Transport spokesperson, Elly Baker AM, said: 

 

“The modernisation of our railways is important, but it cannot be at the expense of safety and accessibility. 

 

“Londoners are having vital services cut from under them. Areas of London that rely on rail services are becoming no-go areas for disabled people. 

 

“It is completely unfair that disabled people are unable to travel freely. I would like to see all London rail stations staffed, from the first train, to the last. 

 

“TfL has some fantastic assistance policies. The government should use this as an example that modernisation and inclusivity can go hand in hand.” 

 

Co-founder of the Association of British Commuters, Emily Yates, said: 

 

"Disabled people are being denied their right to spontaneous, ‘turn up and go’ travel on vast areas of the network in Greater London and the South East.  

 

“Yet, despite extensive evidence suggesting that the railway is already in breach of equality law, the government is pushing ahead with its biggest de-staffing plan in generations.

“The DfT must halt these plans and there should be no question of beginning consultations on ticket office closures until the current Transport Select Committee inquiry has reported back.  

 

“In light of the evidence of existing discrimination, the outrage of disabled people country-wide, and the huge amount of evidence on the way, the government must urgently take heed of its public sector equality duty.  

 

“This mass discrimination can no longer be tolerated, and certainly must not be escalated."