A NEW survey aims to find out people’s views about accessibility at rail stations in the North – and that includes Warrington.
Transport for the North (TfN) wants to improve the level of accessibility in stations right across its region. Some are still partially or wholly inaccessible to people with disabilities or reduced mobility.
Rail users in Warrington, and those who don’t currently use trains, are invited to comment on the accessibility of different aspects of the station environment, and on different stages of using a station (starting from arriving at a rail station, to boarding a train for their onward journey). If they wish, respondents can complete the survey multiple times to provide comments on multiple stations anywhere in the region.
Warrington has seven stations – Central, Bank Quay, Warrington West, Birchwood, Padgate, Glazebrook and Sankey for Penketh.
The survey is open to everyone within the North. It asks people to give feedback on the level of accessibility they have experienced at a specific rail station in the North.
TfN’s recently published Strategic Transport Plan ‘Transforming the North’ sets the vision, strategic ambitions, and the long-term transport priorities for the North of England up to 2050.
It recognises the scale of change required in transport accessibility needed to unlock opportunity and reduce the number of people living in areas with a high risk of social exclusion by one million people by 2050.
TfN’s analysis of facilities at 600 rail stations in the North found that:
• Only 288 (48%) had step-free access to all areas, with even fewer being fully accessible
• 77 (13%) have level access by ramps and lifts to all areas
• 225 (38%) have accessible waiting shelters
• 521 (87%) have an adequate level of lighting
• 497 (83%) have customer information systems for customers with hearing impairments
• 463 (77%) have a public address system for customers with visual impairments
Accessibility isn’t just about being able to physically get into a rail station. It’s also about being able to afford to travel on rail, being able to get to a rail station safely and comfortably, being able to move around the station easily, being able to access the required information when travelling, and feeling safe and comfortable while waiting for the train service, as well as onboard the train.
Understanding the experiences of rail passengers, and particularly their experiences of the accessibility of rail journeys, is crucial to identifying where accessibility improvements are most needed.
The survey is open until Friday June 7
To take part visit https://www.northerntransportvoices.com/oa/26edde
