• Passengers can find out whether stations have step free access, what facilities are available and where alternative accessible stations are for on-the-go planning.
• This is part of the railway industry’s long term plan to improve access to Britain’s railways
• It also follows the news that 11 of Transport for Wales’ stations will soon be seeing ‘Access for All’ investment to make them step free.

The new ‘Access Map’, launched as part of the railway industry’s programme to improve rail access, allows passengers to find the following information on stations across Britain:

• whether stations have step free or partial step free access
• what facilities are available at a station; this includes accessible toilets and changing facilities
• where alternative accessible stations are for on-the-go planning.

This will help passengers feel confident that they will be able to make their journey with ease. ‘Access Map’ is compatible with accessible features on iPhone, Android and desktops, including for visually impaired people.

Over the coming months, development will also begin on an ‘Access Map’ app to make this information even easier to access. The Rail Delivery Group worked in collaboration with train companies and the Department for Transport to create ‘Access Map’.

Alongside this, the rail industry will be upgrading their systems to help speed up the booking assistance process for passengers who require additional support. Passengers will be able to create their own user profiles and spend less time on the phone booking assistance. A revolutionary booking assistance app will be available from summer 2020 to give customers more control over their journey.

The rail industry has delivered over £500 million of improvements since 2006 and, after the government recently announced £300 million of additional funding, it will make 73 more stations accessible by 2024.

This includes Abergavenny, Caerphilly, Ludlow, Tenby and 7 other stations in Wales, who will benefit from this ‘Access for All’ investment to make stations step free. Work on these stations will happen over the next 5 years.

Transport for Wales have also made a commitment to make 99% of all journeys on their core valleys network step free.

Information Source: Transport for Wales