New strategy includes league tables grading disabled access

UK government ministers have pledged £300 million to make transport more accessible, the Department for Transport have said.

The cash comes packaged in the new Inclusive Transport Strategy which accessibility minister Nusrat Ghani described the “the first step in achieving a genuinely inclusive transport network.”

Measures include investment in rail accessibility infrastructure, league tables highlighting operators delivering well for disabled people, and funding for accessible toilets at motorway service stations.

Ghani said: “For our ageing population and the fifth of people who are disabled, access to transport can be far from straightforward.

“This Inclusive Transport Strategy is the first step in achieving a genuinely inclusive transport network, which meets the needs of all people, regardless of whether they are disabled or not.”

Mark Atkinson, chief executive at disability charity Scope, said there are many improvements to be made but welcomed the announcement.

He said: “There is a lot of work to do to bring our transport system up to scratch.

“Disabled people face unnecessary difficulties using all parts of the transport network every day.”

The transport plan comes ahead of the government’s aviation strategy, which it said could include changes to aircraft design and improved on-board facilities to improve the flying experience for disabled people.