§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of those railway stations which have been(a) refurbished and (b) restructured in the last five years do not have access for the disabled. [70802]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAll new stations planned or in build will provide full unassisted wheelchair access. In addition, Railtrack are on course to meet the target, set in the Network Management Statement 1998, of providing unassisted wheelchair access at a further 119 stations this year.
On refurbishment and restructuring projects information is available only for those stations which are included in Railtrack's Station Regeneration Programme. Of the 786 stations which have been subject to such works, 607 are not able to offer unassisted wheelchair access to all platforms. Wheelchair access may be available at these stations, however staff assistance will be required because of goods lifts, barrow crossings, or other barriers to independent access.