Upgrading outdated stations and infrastructure should take priority over building new railway schemes, argues a report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The report – En route to inclusive public transport – is calling on the government to integrate the retrofitting of stations and disabled access points directly into the procurement process.
It argues that the government cannot build its way out of the current inaccessible transport system with impressive new projects while old barriers remain embedded across the network.
These barriers mean that passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility cannot easily navigate stations due to lack of step-free access – for instance, steep stairs, narrow passageways, no elevators to reach platforms and big gaps between the train and platform.
According to the report, these barriers exclude people from being able to use public transport to get to work, education and healthcare, which in turn impacts economic growth.
“It doesn’t...