The UK government and state-owned rail operator TransPennine Express (TPE) have declined to reveal how many stations will offer level boarding for disabled passengers following a significant investment in new trains. The decision to lease 29 new battery-electric trains promises improved accessibility, but questions remain over the accessibility of the stations themselves.
New Trains to Enter Service in 2034
Last week, TPE announced it will introduce British-built battery-electric trains from winter 2034. These trains will operate on routes including Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly to Hull. The new rolling-stock is designed to allow level boarding, which is an important feature for passengers who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs, or have heavy luggage.
Level boarding eliminates the gap between the train and the platform, making boarding safer and quicker. This reduces dwell times at stations and supports greater travel independence for many, including disabled passengers.
Uncertainty Over Station Accessibility
Despite the clear benefits of level boarding, the Department for Transport (DfT), TPE, and Network Rail have refused to disclose how many of the 333 platforms on the TPE network will be adapted to accommodate the new trains. DfT only stated that the majority of platforms will be suitable for level boarding. For stations that do not have high enough platforms, wheelchair users will still need to rely on boarding ramps and assistance from staff.
This lack of clarity leaves disabled passengers unsure about where they will be able to enjoy the promised accessibility improvements.
Campaigners Call for Transparency
Tony Jennings, co-founder of the disabled-led Campaign for Level Boarding, criticised the lack of detail. He said:
“The new TPE trains are being presented as a major accessibility improvement, but without identifying which stations will actually provide level boarding, wheelchair- and mobility scooter-users cannot tell where the promised independence will exist and therefore cannot assess the real accessibility benefit of the £1 billion investment.”
Jennings emphasised the importance of accountability, highlighting that the DfT’s forthcoming long-term rolling-stock and infrastructure strategy will consider platform compatibility. The government has also commissioned a study to identify practical locations for level boarding. He added:
“It is reasonable to ask for considerably more transparency about which TPE stations are expected to have level boarding by 2034, which are not, and what is planned for the latter. Level boarding is only a benefit if the station infrastructure matches the new train.”
He warned that without a station-by-station breakdown, passengers cannot determine how much of the promised benefit applies to their journeys.
Baroness Grey-Thompson Highlights Importance of Infrastructure
Baroness [Tanni] Grey-Thompson, a leading disabled campaigner on accessible transport, stressed that purchasing low-floor trains is only part of the solution. She said:
“It is essential that we know the rolling programme for getting the right platform heights so that low-level trains can provide the access they’re designed for. It’s not enough just to buy low-floor trains, but this is a significant start. Buying trains that don’t change how disabled people can access trains independently is only half the puzzle.”
Looking Ahead
The new battery-electric trains mark a £1 billion investment in rail infrastructure and rolling-stock, with the potential to improve accessibility significantly. However, the government and rail industry must provide greater transparency on which stations will be adapted to deliver true level boarding.
Without this information, disabled passengers face uncertainty in planning their journeys and may continue to encounter barriers to independent travel.
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Tags: Campaign for Level Boarding, Department for Transport, Level Boarding, Network Rail, TransPennine Express
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