The new session of parliament was officially launched by King Charles III at the Palace of Westminster this morning, where His Majesty set out the governments priorities for the next few years.
I am delighted that the railways are going to be brought back into public ownership under the new Labour government in this session of parliament.
As you, my readers and followers will know I have spent the last 17 months campaigning for improvements to the assisted travel provision that is currently offered by rail operators to those living with mobility issues and other disabilities across the nation.
Since the accessibility signage has been so successful at Aston and Witton Lane railway stations near Birmingham, West Midlands Trains have decided to install the signage at the following stations in the midlands:
- Northampton
- Coventry Arena
- The Hawthorns
- Tile Hill
- Telford
- University
- Kenilworth
I recently wrote to the Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE and his departmental officials about the possibility of introducing guidance around the introduction of accessibility signage at unstaffed stations across England that see high volumes of passenger assistance requests going though them.
Putting the railways back into public ownership across the nation will give his majesties government more of a say in how the railway is ran and what happens to it in the long run, I completely accept and understand that this will not happen overnight.
My message to the Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE and his departmental official’s is a simple but long one, Please deliver on something that the Tories failed to do, you and the government have an incredible opportunity to ensure that we, the disabled community are heard when it comes to all things rail and accessibility.
It’s 2024 and that means that we shouldn’t be seeing members of our community being left at stations or on trains because there assistance has failed so no one has arrived to assist them on or off trains.
I would also urge you to undertake a review of what assisted travel provision is offered by rail operators to the disabled community and how effective is it for those who use it on a regular basis.
This would mean that the assisted travel provision offered to our community would be monitored and streamlined so that it is the same regardless of where you live in the country.
I am personally fed up of not knowing what level of service I will receive each time that I travel on the rail network, this has to change and it needs to happen quickly not in 5 or 10 years time.
I rely on the rail network to get around independently as someone who has a disability, but right now it isn’t fit for purpose when it comes to the needs of our community.
Please, please, please deliver on what you have promised in this morning’s king’s speech when it comes to this issue, otherwise you will have failed our community for the first time since you came into office earlier this month.
Right now I feel listened to and remembered by the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer and his government and this was something that i struggled with during the days of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government.
Rishi Sunak’s Minister for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman and his departmental officials continually spat out the same information over and over again without actually acknowledging that there is a massive issue when it comes to assisted travel provision.
Did you enjoy reading this morning’s reactive post about the State Opening of Parliament and the nations railway being brought back into public ownership within the next 5 or so years, then why not subscribe and receive my posts direct to your inbox within minutes of publication.
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I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, my readers and followers for continuing to take the time out of your schedules to read my latest post, it doesn’t go unnoticed and this very much appreciated.
Cam
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