There are currently ninety six railway stations in Greater Manchester with forty two defined as accessible, having step-free access to every platform.
Now Transport for Greater Manchester bosses are calling for more funded to make the rest accessible.
Last year Greater Manchester submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s national Access for All fund, which offers £100 million for accessibility improvements between 2014-19.
However, no Greater Manchester stations were among the 42 across the country approved for accessibility funding improvements.
Transport leaders want to improve access to the fifty four local rail stations in Greater Manchester that still do not have step-free access.
If a station is inaccessible, train operating companies have to provide alternative transport, at no extra cost above the ticket price, to the nearest or most convenient station.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “It’s unacceptable in this day and age that over half of Greater Manchester’s train stations are not accessible to all.
“Poor access to the rail network is a nationwide issue – and the duty to address it lies with the rail industry as a whole, but principally the Department for Transport through its Access for All fund.
“Over the past five years we have worked with the DfT to deliver Access for All-funded step-free improvements at several stations, including Hazel Grove, Cheadle Hulme, Marple, Littleborough, Manchester Oxford Road, Stalybridge, together with Blackrod.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s Rail Station Accessibility programme prioritised the top-ten stations most in need of step-free access based on a number of criteria.
Work was completed at Blackrod station in 2012, and the remaining nine are: Mills Hill, Appley Bridge, Walkden, Irlam, Hindley, Newton for Hyde, Daisy Hill, Broadbottom and Swinton.
Discussions are currently ongoing with the Department for Transport in connection with including Greater Manchester’s remaining nine priority stations within the new North of England franchise.
