Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans if any they have to provide level access on to trains by (1) lowering the track bed, (2) raising platforms, or (3) purchasing trains with a lower central section between the wheel bogies; and if not, why none of these options is acceptable.

The Government appreciates how frustrating the issue of the difference in platform-to-train gap can be for passengers with disabilities and we remain committed to ensuring that all passengers have the same opportunities to travel on the rail network.

Gaps can vary at stations across the network, due to both the design of the station and the platforms at the time of construction, sometimes more than a hundred years ago. It also has to vary according to the type of services which use the line, for example, high-speed, commuter and freight trains.

The rail industry takes several approaches to improving the stepping distance between platform and train, for example the Department for Transport has funded a number of raised sections of platforms across the country to provide level boarding on to trains e.g. Harrington, Whaley Bridge and Ty Croes. However, these may not be suitable for all locations.

There are also 378 carriages forming 58 trains currently in service with Greater Anglia that have lower floor sections with in-built ramps. Under delivery are a further 133 carriages forming 35 trains for Transport for Wales and 208 carriages forming 54 trains for Merseyrail, all of which have in-built ramps.