Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to announce the outcome of the feasibility study into step-free access at Dorchester South station.

We are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

Since 2006 the Access for All programme has installed accessible, step free routes at over 270 stations plus a range of smaller scale access improvements at around 1500 stations.

In May 2024, the previous government agreed the publication of a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work, which included Dorchester South railway station.

Network Rail have now completed all 50 feasibility studies and we will shortly be announcing which of those stations will progress.

I am pleased that Dorset Council have already pledged some funding for the project but would welcome any further contributions that could be found.