Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require all new passenger trains to be built with step-free access through at least one set of doors per carriage.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has the same access to the rail network regardless of their needs. When procuring new trains operators are expected to minimise the height of the train door relative to the standard platform height to improve access and minimise risks for all passengers.

Under current accessibility requirements contained within the Persons with Reduced Mobility National Technical Specification Notice, operators are required to provide boarding ramps to provide step-free access to passengers boarding or alighting from trains.

Step-free access is also possible with existing rolling stock at stations which have been modified with raised platforms or built to enable level boarding.