Great British Railways to Ensure Accessibility on New Rolling Stock

Great British Railways (GBR) will make unassisted level boarding a baseline expectation for all new trains wherever possible, according to a government announcement made on 28 September 2026. The policy follows the Roadmap to an Accessible Railway, which set out improvements to day‑to‑day travel for passengers needing assistance and established that new trains should reduce barriers between carriages and standard Network Rail platforms. The government will invest £280 million in step‑free access through the Access for All programme, with 30 schemes currently underway across England, Scotland and Wales.

The announcement is part of the new Rolling Stock and Infrastructure plan, under which GBR will oversee decisions on trains, track, depots and maintenance as the government seeks to place essential services back in public control. The plan also includes the possibility of new trains being publicly owned rather than leased, a move that the Department for Transport confirmed will bring Chiltern Railways services into public ownership on 20 September 2026.

GBR’s commitment to level boarding is already reflected in new trains built by Alstom for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which operate on Greater Anglia and Merseyrail. London’s new Old Oak Common station will provide step‑free boarding for Elizabeth line passengers once it opens. Transport for London has opened a public consultation on a new London Overground route between Hendon and Hounslow, and TfGM has announced a partnership with Aviva to make Bee Network tram travel free for school groups.