Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the updated version of the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan addresses the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability (Session 2015–16) regarding audio-visual announcements on buses.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government’s consultation on the draft transport Accessibility Action Plan closed on Wednesday 22nd November. The final version will be published in 2018 and will set out the Government’s ambitions in this area based on the feedback provided. The final Plan will also set out the Government’s timescale for delivery.
The Government remains committed to introducing an Accessible Information Requirement, expanding the provision of audible and visible information to local bus services across Great Britain, so helping passengers to travel with greater confidence.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan, in the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan, to confirm timescales for the publication of the Accessible Information Requirement regulations associated with the Bus Services Act 2017.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government’s consultation on the draft transport Accessibility Action Plan closed on Wednesday 22nd November. The final version will be published in 2018 and will set out the Government’s ambitions in this area based on the feedback provided. The final Plan will also set out the Government’s timescale for delivery.
The Government remains committed to introducing an Accessible Information Requirement, expanding the provision of audible and visible information to local bus services across Great Britain, so helping passengers to travel with greater confidence.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendation, made by the Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability (Session 2015–16), to ensure that no taxi driver or private hire vehicle driver is licensed without having undertaken disability equality training; and whether they have any plans to introduce statutory guidance to that end.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities.
It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training. There are however no existing powers to give this guidance statutory status.
In addition, my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Transport, announced in a Westminster Hall debate that he would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing such as this and it will be reporting its findings in the New Year.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the desired outcomes set out in the Department for Transport Accessibility Action Plan will be achieved within the timescales set out in the document.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is committed to delivering a transport system which works for all. The draft Accessibility Action Plan (AAP) was published in August for a three month consultation. The consultation is now closed and the Government is analysing the responses received.
The final AAP will be published in 2018 and will set out the Government’s ambitions for this agenda based on the feedback provided. The final Plan will also set out the Government’s timescales for delivery.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 13 October (HL1928), what assessment they have made of the compliance with the standards required by the Governance for Railway Investment Projects process in the redevelopment of Reading Station, in particular as regards (1) the provision of large printed timetables, (2) the visibility and positioning of platform number signs on the platforms, (3) the visibility and positioning of indicator screens, (4) the detailing of intermediate stations on concourse indicator screens, (5) the presence of staff to provide information to passengers, and (6) weather protection.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The implementation of the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process is the responsibility of Network Rail and it are responsible for meeting all relevant standards.
Network Rail has however, advised me that:
1) The station operator; First Great Western has decided not to specify the provision of large printed timetables.
2) The platform number signs are standard size signs and are positioned to not interfere with signal sighting along platforms. The signs are identical in size to those that were hung from the previous canopies.
3) The indicator screens are an industry standard with this particular type widely used throughout the Great Western route. Equipment on platforms must be mounted a minimum of 2.5m above the platform to comply with standards.
The location of the indicators were carefully selected to avoid being at the foot of escalators and stairs and positioned in areas where passengers can congregate without affecting the flow along the various platforms and around the station.
4) The indicator screens on each platform contain full details of all stopping points for that train, whereas the ‘summary of departures screens’ show final destinations.
5) The staffing levels on Reading station are the responsibility of by First Great Western. A significant number of additional customer assistants have now been employed by First Great Western to cater for the enlarged station.
6) The design of the new canopies has had to take into account the need of future electrification. As a consequence the canopy is higher and set back behind the platform edge.
However, observations made during periods of rainfall since May 2013 clearly show that if passengers are standing behind the yellow line will generally remain dry. Obviously the further back from the edge of the platform, the more likely to remain dry they will be.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of protection from the elements afforded to passengers on platforms at Reading Station following its redevelopment by Network Rail.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
All investment works undertaken by Network Rail to enhance or renew the national rail network are delivered to required standards that are included within the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process. As part of the multi-million pound investment in upgrading and improving the Great Western Route, including Reading Station, Network Rail undertook an extensive GRIP process including detailed multi discipline and ergonomic design assessments balancing a wide range of factors including safety, performance, passenger information, weather protection, passenger facilities, accessibility and compliance with all relevant standards to reach the optimal design.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the provision of information to passengers at Reading Station following its redevelopment by Network Rail and, in particular (1) the provision of large printed timetables, (2) the visibility of platform number signs on the platforms, (3) the visibility and positioning of indicator screens, (4) the detailing of intermediate stations on concourse indicator screens and (5) the presence of staff to provide information to passengers.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
All investment works undertaken by Network Rail to enhance or renew the national rail network are delivered to required standards that are included within the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process. As part of the multi-million pound investment in upgrading and improving the Great Western Route, including Reading Station, Network Rail undertook an extensive GRIP process including detailed multi discipline and ergonomic design assessments balancing a wide range of factors including safety, performance, passenger information, weather protection, passenger facilities, accessibility and compliance with all relevant standards to reach the optimal design.