Many rail businesses are missing out on a customer base worth almost £250 million by not catering for disabled passengers’ needs.
That is the message from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton who has appointment Stephen Brookes MBE to champion the cause of the more than 13 million disabled people in the country.
Stephen, a member of Rail Delivery Group’s governance group and non-executive director of Blackpool Transport, will use his influence in the industry to promote the benefits of being inclusive to disabled passengers.
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Last year he created disability access groups for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express and is now working with Virgin Trains and Transport Scotland.
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Sarah Newton, said: “Additional support is already available, such as the Disabled Persons Railcard, but we know there is more to do to.
“By showing businesses in the rail sector the importance of making disabled customers a priority, our new rail champion will help to ensure disabled people can have a better quality of experience when travelling by train.”
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