Campaign for Level Boarding

The Campaign for Level Boarding is a group of activists, engineers and experts working together to make level boarding on UK trains and stations a reality.

[Christiane Link @Christiane]

Waiting at LBG for maybe 10 minutes and while I was waiting the 7th wheelchair user has arrived. Just on one platform. All solo travellers. Level boarding is so desperately needed.

[Dermot Devlin he/him @castleDD]

This is positive news for disabled passengers on the Enterprise train.

Unaided baoarding available at every door, with step-free train interior will provide independence and hassle free travel for many.

@Translink_NI | @IrishRail | @deptinfra | @Dept_Transport | @SEUPB

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

. ⁦@tfwrail⁩ reopened Ty Glas railway station following completion of substantial upgrades

Upgrades allow TfW to introduce its new Cl756 tri-mode trains to the station

Accessibility has been improved through the introduction of @LevelBoarding
https://t.co/z75l6qXLBS

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

Platform train interface risk remains the single most significant source of harm to passengers on Britain’s railways, before considering the accessibility implications of preventing truly independent travel for disabled people.

Download our letter here: https://t.co/sLSvaUPQFp

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

Lastly, the OOC project has a @NetworkRail-appointed "technical sponsor for level boarding" - this role should be made mandatory for all projects at stations ✅

This would be a valuable and meaningful step towards improving accessibility across the railway network.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

The conditions at OOC are unique. The endorsement by the Campaign for @LevelBoarding of a high-floor, high-platform proposal MUST NOT set any precedent for any future station project ❌

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

So long as this is managed with additional protections as determined by appropriate risk assessment, this is acceptable ✅

Extra protections could include more staff, more announcements or under-platform lighting.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

GWR and its replacement under GBR will still call some off peak and disrupted trains at the Relief platforms, and this will eventually mean low floor trains calling at a high platform. This will represent less than 1% of forecast passengers.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

Therefore, the right solution on the OOC Relief platforms is to build them "high to standard" to match the Elizabeth Line trains ✅

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

This will never be reversed.

The cost of correcting these multi-billion pound stations will be less than rebuilding/adjusting stations outside of central London. As a very high capacity system, the Elizabeth Line network favours further segregation and less mixing of services.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

The 4 "Relief" platforms will primarily serve Elizabeth Line trains, covering 99% of forecast passengers.

Thanks to bad choices made in the development of Crossrail, the underground stations in central London were built with a high platform matching trains with a high floor.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

OOC will have 8 platforms.

The 4 "Main" platforms will be built to the GB national standard, serving GWR trains that will eventually all be low-floored, as outer suburban and the rapidly decaying IET fleets are replaced.

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

📢 Today, the Campaign for @LevelBoarding is publishing its letter to @NetworkRail's project team for the Old Oak Common station, ENDORSING their proposals for level boarding provision at the Relief platforms for @TfL Elizabeth Line services.

There are caveats, however. 🧵

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

@ChimeraX2021 @Tanni_GT @WestMidRailway @LevelBoarding boarding a level boarding train is imaginary 😂😂😂

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

. @WestMidRailway ordering non level boarding trains was a terrible mistake

It has baked in inaccessibility for decades - @LevelBoarding would’ve been possible at those new stations

[Christiane Link @Christiane]

Stadler trains cope well with curved platforms; you can see it at Greater Anglia. As long as trains don't meet the standard platform height, there is no way to fix the system, even long-term, and bring the platforms to standard height. You can see the curved platform and level boarding here: https://t.co/7y8klDbmNH

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

Alstom to supply 153 trains in Portugal’s largest rail fleet order

Accessibility has been a key design priority

The trains will include @LevelBoarding step free access, level floors throughout the trainsets and spaces for wheelchairs and bicycles https://t.co/5vVMc7Zrus

[Philip Haigh @philatrail]

DfT Operator wants innovators to put their minds to improving accessibility for rail passengers, saying that “Traditional ramps between platforms and trains are heavy, slow to deploy, and take up valuable space”. Perhaps DfTO should procure level boarding trains?

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

@JoeBrownLondon @OverTheHill2025 @merseyrail @LevelBoarding for the win

[Christiane Link @Christiane]

THIS is how you make trains accessible for everyone https://t.co/7XZRGiWSUM via @YouTube