Question
Disabled residents and anyone who relies on the lift at Bishop’s Stortford train station have found it consistently out of service in recent months. That is making it harder for them to get to work, school and other activities. I understand that discussions regarding a long-term fix are ongoing, but our community still lacks clarity on what those works will involve and when they might take place. The Rail Minister kindly supported my campaign to get the platform 1 lift at Hertford North train station over the line. I would be grateful if Ministers could lend their support again by asking Network Rail and Greater Anglia to bring forward a clear plan for restoring reliable step-free access at Bishop’s Stortford.
Answer
I am very sorry to hear about the problems that my hon. Friend’s constituents are experiencing at Bishop’s Stortford station. I am aware of those problems and know that they were further impacted by the extreme temperatures this summer. A full lift replacement is planned for 2028, but I realise that that will sound like a long way off to his constituents. In the short term, I will ask my officials to meet Greater Anglia to explore how we can alleviate disruption for residents, and I would be happy to keep him updated on that.
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply gives a concrete date for the full lift replacement (2028) and says officials will meet Greater Anglia about reducing short-term disruption. It does not commit Ministers to asking Network Rail and Greater Anglia for a clear plan to restore step-free access, and Network Rail is not mentioned. The request for that plan is therefore only partly answered, and the person who asked would likely need to raise it again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Ministers ask Network Rail and Greater Anglia to bring forward a clear plan for restoring reliable step-free access at Bishop's Stortford station? | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply gives a concrete date (full lift replacement in 2028) and commits officials to meet Greater Anglia about alleviating disruption, but it never says Ministers will ask Network Rail and Greater Anglia to bring forward a clear plan for restoring step-free access, and Network Rail is not mentioned. The meeting addresses short-term disruption rather than the requested plan, so the request is only partly answered. |