Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Nigel Mills Excerpts
Thursday 30th January 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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The hon. Lady will know that most of our railway stations were built in an era when no thought was given to accessibility, let alone to parents and people with wheelchairs. That is why we have a £300 million fund, which is supporting over 73 stations, and another tier of £20 million for smaller upgrades. I know that there are two stations in her constituency in the review, and she will not have to be patient for much longer.

Nigel Mills Portrait Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)
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Will the Minister urge Network Rail to get on with the level access improvements at Alfreton station and urge East Midlands Railway to scrap its plans to end the direct train services to London from my constituency, which would make it harder for disabled passengers to get to stations south of Nottingham?

Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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I am a little cautious about the second point, but I will most definitely do what my hon. Friend asks on the first. Network Rail has a duty to make sure its stations have decent accessibility, and where there is no accessibility, the rail operating companies have a duty to make sure passengers can carry on with their journey.