It's now 16 years since CBTG formally raised the urgent need to improve access to the railway at Chinley (see our 2009 document)

Nine years have passed since we organised a major survey of rail users' experiences at Chinley (click here)

Seven years have passed since High peak's then MP Ruth George presented a petition of over 800 signatures in the Chamber of the house of Commons  (here)

Three years have passed since High Peak's then MP Robert Largan presented a petition in the Commons to the same end (here)

How long before things change ?

Meanwhile, a Select Committee has highlighted the same issue (once again) :

"A new Transport Committee report uncovers the harsh daily reality experienced by disabled people when using transport services, and calls for an overhaul of the regulatory system that should ensure they are supported and protected from discrimination.

From accounts of wheelchair users left on planes for hours, to taxi drivers refusing lifts to people because they have an assistance dog, and street clutter causing obstructions, MPs received shocking evidence of widespread failure by providers, across all transport modes, to uphold the rights of people with access needs.

The cross-party Committee’s report also finds that progress with addressing disparities between disabled and non-disabled people’s access to services has in some cases gone into reverse since the Covid pandemic, despite policy aspirations to close the gap.

Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury said:

“It should be a source of national embarrassment that our country’s transport services effectively treat disabled people as second class citizens, denying them access to jobs, leisure, support networks and essential services – denying them their rights".

Read the report in pdf form here...

Key recommendations

Across the transport system, accessibility for disabled people must be recognised as a human right rather than a ‘nice to have’. Failures should be seen as discrimination, not merely as a customer service issue. A change of mindset is needed at all levels among providers, regulators and enforcers.

Given that Chinley is now on the DfT's list for improvement and given that over £20,000 was spent on a Network Rail study in 2021, when can we expect things to happen ?