Northern Politicians Push for Accessible Rail Stations

North Rail Stations: Accessible? Absolutely Not! (Yet)

TL;DR: Half the stations are a maze for wheelchairs, a ghost town for staff, and a nightmare for night owls. The North’s leaders are thumbing up for a revival.

What the research says

Only 48% of stations have step‑free access.
More than 60% lack fully accessible waiting shelters.
Nearly a ¼ have no public address system.
Staff are absent at over half the stations.
Lighting and CCTV are so poor that “she’s just standing in a dark corner” is the common “night time” experience.

Bottom line: At the current pace, the North will only be fully step‑free by the 22nd century—just ask your grandfather’s fossils reference.

Why it matters (and why it’s funny)

Imagine trying to board a train with a wheelchair, only to find a sudden bump that’s actually a bike tyre. In realtime, passengers need support but the station resembles a ghost town—don’t worry, the ghost staff are also missing.

When you mix bad lighting, no CCTV, and no staff, you get the feeling of a spooky “Mystery of the Missing Train” that is especially unsettling for women and girls. Feeling safe is not a suggestion; it’s a right.

Calls for action

Mayor Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester)

Targets £400 million over five years.
Calls accessibility “key” and compares it to tactile paving in urban spaces.
“A rail network has to be for everybody.”
Points out the link between a more inclusive network and the North’s economic future.

Mayor Kim McGuinness (North East)

Prepares the region with step‑free access on every platform.
Uses 500+ digital CCTV cameras for peace of mind.
Stresses that devolution of accessibility budgets to Northern leaders is essential.
“Accessibility should be at the heart of every network alongside safety.”

Where the numbers came from

Transport for the North (TfN) surveyed over 2,000 public transport users and published a report today. The findings also highlight that many are being priced out of the rail network due to ticket costs.

Next steps: Make it happen!

TfN is urging the government to fix these issues ASAP. They want the North’s investment plans to prioritize accessibility and safety—when planning new infrastructure, these two must be top‑notch.