New major initiative made possible by the Mobility Foundation

In the new year, four community rail partnerships will come together in a major new initiative to help disabled people use rail more confidently.

The initiative, made possible by a grant from the Motability Foundation, will involve four main delivery partners who already have experience in this type of work: Community Rail Lancashire; GO Community railway partnership (Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire); Severnside Community Rail Partnership; and the South East Communities Rail Partnership.

Working with local disability and inclusion partners, the partnership aims to engage with 1,500 disabled people with diverse needs and lived experiences to develop their skills and awareness when traveling by train.

They will also draw on their experiences to help them enjoy their train journey more.

Evidence shows that many disabled people face barriers when traveling by train. Research by the charity Scope shows that 54% of disabled people often or always feel anxious using public transport and 30% say that difficulties with public transport reduce their mobility.

The experience with the Community Rail Network shows the benefits of empowering disabled people by meaningfully engaging with them and making changes to break down barriers, railways and other modes of travel can be open.

The initiative will ensure that the experiences of disabled people are at the fore, their views are shared with rail partners and decision makers both locally and nationally. They will contribute to the formation of a more inclusive railway, especially through the railway reform process.

The program will be coordinated by the Community Rail Network, which will gather evidence and insights and engage the wider membership of 75 community rail partnerships and 325 station groups.

They will share good practice and support wider work by providing small grants and advice so that more of its members can start similar initiatives in their local areas, such as Ipswich to Cambridge Community Rail Partnership which started in October.

The value of the Community Rail Partnership can be seen in Great Yarmouth, where a vital link linking the town’s railway station to the town centre, holiday parks and seafront was able to continue to operate thanks to funding from the local Community Railway Partnership.

“We are delighted to be commissioning this important program at a crucial time as the railway enters a period of major transformation. We know from our members’ experiences working with the disabled community and people in various circumstances that too many people feel excluded from rail. But we also see up close the incredible benefits that can be achieved through meaningful engagement, raising awareness, skills and confidence in travel and, crucially, drawing on the experience of people with disabilities to affect change wider. Allowing people who previously felt unable to use rail to start accessing the opportunities it can open up – training, employment, leisure and social opportunities – can be life-changing. Ultimately, we are working towards a truly inclusive railway and all disabled people can travel with confidence.”

Jools Townsend, Chief Executive of the Community Rail Network