The deadline of 1 January 2020 to make all trains accessible for disabled people has been ripped up in what has been branded the first “broken promise” since Boris Johnson’s election win.
Around 1,200 carriages – many of them on notorious northern routes, already dogged by delays and cancellations – will continue running into the next decade, The Independent can reveal.

The tally is one in every 11 in the fleet and 50 per cent higher than the number that rail companies had asked for permission to keep in operation, despite having had a full decade to prepare.
Some cannot accommodate wheelchairs, while others lack audio-visual information systems, easy to use handholds and handrails, or an accessible toilet – if toilets are fitted at all.

The move was sharply criticised by campaigners for better transport and for people with disabilities as a bitter new year pill for passengers to swallow.


Tanni Grey-Thompson, the multi gold medal-winning Paralympian, said: “I’m hugely disappointed. The rail industry has to urgently address what it is going to do to allow accessible transport and be transparent with its plans.

“It feels like there is tinkering around the edges. They’ve had plenty of time but just kept pushing it into the long grass.”
Darren Shirley, the chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “With 10 years to prepare for the deadline to make trains accessible, this is a delay too far and has let down disabled passengers.”
And Andy McDonald, Labour’s transport spokesman, said: “This government is not yet a week old, but is already breaking its promises...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...oFWlPUxw5DoK8o