Throughout its history, it’s fair to say that the British public has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with its railways. This reflects the importance that rail transport has in our lives, culture and prosperity – it’s something we care about. Feelings tend to be even more mixed when it comes to the infrastructure works needed to maintain and improve the network.
It’s natural to feel more positive about changes and upheavals when we can clearly see that they’re needed, carried out with empathy, and driven by a desire to make our lives better and more convenient.
What we’re all striving for is for rail transport to be perceived and a responsive and trusted partner in people’s lives. To be seen as an industry that delivers its commitments and listens. Access for All (AfA) has a crucial role to play in this.
AfA Raises Expectations
The fundamental need for most people affected by infrastructure projects is to see that their views and priorities are welcomed and being actively considered. This need is particularly acute with AfA schemes. On the one hand, we’re causing disruption to an existing asset regularly used by countless people. On the other, we’re creating an expectation among people who would love to use the rail network but feel shut out.
The recently completed AfA upgrade to Motspur Park Station illustrates how these pressures converge. The scheme provided step-free access to the single island platform via a new covered footbridge and three lifts. The new footbridge also provides a safer and more pleasurable route for local residents who need to cross the Waterloo main line, replacing a narrow, worn out and exposed predecessor.
Practicalities
Operational constraints meant that much of the work had to be carried out during short possession periods. And the narrowness of the island platform made it unfeasible to plan consecutive operations in the way we normally do to truncate the overall schedule.
The necessary improvement works had the potential to make a lot of people unhappy – something our team was very mindful of. The station is in a busy suburban setting surrounded by homes and businesses, not to mention streets that were hard to negotiate for the 350-tonne mobile crane needed to site the lift gear.
The scheme also meant closing a road close to the station for 18 months. Our relationship with Merton Council, and its support for the project, helped manage these offsite challenges.
Regular and meaningful consultation with travellers and the local community helped everyone understand the changes that were happening and why. Far from being unhappy, the response from these groups has been overwhelmingly positive – both in terms of the improvements made and how the work was carried out.
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By signing up, you’ll gain access to our resource hub, designed to support rail operators, designers and project teams in delivering successful Access for All (AfA) projects.
Access valuable resources, including:
- Proven Practices: Practical guides on AfA project management to improve efficiency, reduce costs and achieve sustainable outcomes.
- Regulatory Guidance: Clear insights into compliance requirements to ensure your projects meet the highest standards of accessibility and safety.
- InnovateUK Report Summary: Detailed findings on the future of accessible and inclusive rail travel in the UK.
- House of Commons Report Overview: An overview of the legislative framework for AfA, including its alignment with the Equality Act 2010.
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