The deputy said that “the services that work for those who have a handicap work better for everyone, and we urge the government to put this permanent neglected problem at the heart of all aspects of its plans to revitalize the rail”.
Whitehall officials had talks in crisis with disability activists who told the BBC that they were unhappy that the government did not invite opinions on the inclusion of accessibility.
One of the militant’s red lines is the omission of measures previously promised, such as contributions to government consultation, “a railway adapted to the future of Great Britain”.
The consultation concerns the conditions under which Great British Railways (GBR) – The operating name of the railway to reference in Great Britain – will operate, and activists are concerned about accessibility.
In her letter, Cadbury noted that the previous conservative government reform bill, published in February 2024, “included clauses which would have forced” GBR “to take into account the accessibility requirements of people with disabilities”.
Commenting on Cadbury’s letter, transport for the whole CEO, Caroline Stickland, said: “We urge the government to put accessibility at the heart of rail reforms. This consultation must make changes that finally make transport accessible to all.”
“We are delighted that Ruth Cadbury and the Intermediate Transport Committee shares the concerns of our community according to which proposals in the current rail consultation are too weak.”
The Ministry of Transport said that “accessibility is a central priority”.
A spokesperson said that “any suggestion that we demotize our existing commitment to accessibility is incorrect”.
“The Minister of Rails met with transport for all this week, and we urge groups of disabled people to share their opinions and continue to work with the department while we create a railway adjusted for the 21st century.”
