Question
The Access for All programme is 20 years old this year, yet much work is to be done on making travel easier for rail passengers with mobility constraints. For example, the northbound platform at Ruabon station, in my constituency, still has no step-free access and is in desperate need of a ramp or, better yet, a lift. What steps is the Department taking to improve accessibility at Welsh railway stations?
Answer
I enjoyed meeting my hon. Friend last week, when we discussed Ruabon station. My officials have since raised this project with Network Rail. I am very pleased to confirm that the UK Government have announced Ruabon as one of the 23 stations across Great Britain that have been selected to progress to the next stage of the Access for All programme. I look forward to further engagement with my hon. Friend on this hugely important project, which I believe includes the installation of what is known in the trade as a jack-in-the-box lift.20% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply gives direct, concrete information on accessibility in Wales, naming the Access for All programme, Ruabon station's selection for its next stage, and a planned jack-in-the-box lift. It does not describe the department's approach to accessibility at Welsh railway stations generally, because it focuses on a single station. The 23-station figure it cites covers Great Britain as a whole rather than Wales, so the person who asked would likely need to follow up for a Wales-wide picture.
Verdict: AMBER (60/100)
The reply gave a direct, specific answer on the point it addressed: it named the Access for All programme and said Ruabon, a Welsh station, has been selected to progress to its next stage, with a lift installation as the intended work. It covers only one station within a Great Britain-wide programme, however, and does not give an overview of step-free access across Welsh stations generally. Someone wanting the wider picture would probably need to ask a follow-up question.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the department is doing about improving accessibility at Welsh railway stations. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply gives concrete action on accessibility in Wales, naming the Access for All programme, Ruabon's selection for its next stage, and a planned jack-in-the-box lift. However, it covers only one station rather than the department's approach to accessibility at Welsh railway stations generally, and the 23-station figure refers to Great Britain as a whole. |
| What is the Department doing about improving accessibility at Welsh railway stations? | Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete programme, Access for All, and reports that Ruabon, a Welsh station, has been selected to progress to its next stage, with a lift installation described as the intended work. It is only one station under a Great Britain-wide programme, so it does not survey Welsh stations generally, but it does describe relevant programme activity as the item's general-position framing allows. |