Access for All

The Strategy, launched in March 2006, is supported by a £370 million Access for All fund, which will enable significant access improvements to be introduced at more than 200 stations across the country.

Station selection and prioritisation is being made by the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland. The majority of funding is targeted at the most heavily used stations, while a proportion has also been allocated to ensure a fair geographical spread of stations across Great Britain.

Network Rail is working closely with train operating companies and other key stakeholders to ensure there is a co-ordinated approach in implementing these key access improvements at stations.

The Access for All funding is in addition to station accessibility improvements that may be committed in Train Operating Company franchises, the ongoing renewal of stations and major station improvement projects.

Why is the Access for All funding needed?

Britain’s railway network has more than 2,500 stations, with many built in the Victorian era when little regard was given to the needs of passengers with limited mobility.

Accessibility improvements are particularly needed at many busy stations that only have stepped access, which make journeys difficult or impossible for passengers in wheelchairs, the elderly and those with pushchairs and heavy or awkward luggage.

What will the Access for All funding deliver?

An accessible route will be provided from the entrance to, and between, platforms at the stations selected. This will make the station more accessible to everyone, including those people with disabilities. In turn, this will open up significantly more of the national rail network to a greater number of people and therefore provide many new journey opportunities.

Station Lists

A full list of the stations selected to date - 132 in England & Wales, 8 in Scotland – is listed below. These will have accessible routes installed between 2007 and 2011. More stations are expected to be announced by the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland in due course.

More Information

More detailed information on the Government’s Railways for All Strategy can be found on the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland websites:

Department for Transport
Transport Scotland 

Access for All Small Scheme Funding

The Railways for All Strategy also provides up to £7m annually through its Small Schemes Fund. Local authorities, Train Operating Companies and other groups can bid for matched-funding up to £250,000 to make improvements to local stations and address the particular needs of local communities.

More information on the Small Schemes Funding can be found on the DfT website

Access for All Stations List

Department for Transport selection:

• Tranche 1 - for delivery between 2006 – 2009
• Tranche 2 - for delivery between 2009 – 2011
• Tranche 3 - for delivery between 2012 – 2015

Updated August 2008