Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has plans to mandate a standard platform height for train stations.

Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of the Government’s passenger-focused approach and we will work to deliver a more reliable and consistent customer experience for everyone with accessibility needs.

Level boarding is an important factor, and the procurement of new trains will need to take account of allowing passengers to board and alight with ease.

At present, new, renewed or upgraded platforms at train stations in Great Britain are required to meet a nominal height of 915mm, as mandated by the National Technical Specification Notices and National Technical Rules for the interoperability of the GB railway.

There is no current plan to change these mandatory platform heights requirements for stations on the conventional mainline railway, but the Department keeps all rail interoperability requirements under review.