Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, who has a strong record of successful campaigning for improvements to passenger experience, has secured safety improvements at Wadhurst and Frant railway stations in East Sussex for visually impaired residents
Warning tactile and a painted contrasting line on station platforms are key orientation and safety features, especially for people with sight loss, but a third of station platforms across the country currently lacks these provisions.
Following Nusrat’s collaboration with Guide Dogs campaign, Network Rail has confirmed that by March 2022 this important safety feature will be installed on all Kent route stations, which include Wadhurst and Frant.
In her previous role as Transport Minister, Nusrat delivered the Inclusive Transport Strategy aimed at equal access for disabled people in transport networks. Last year, she also secured refurbishments to Eridge and Crowborough stations to ensure step-free access as part of the Access For All Fund. Works are currently ongoing and expected to be completed later this year.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Securing improvements to rail services in Wealden remains one of my priorities. Train travel is a vital form of transport for people with sight loss and these improvements are fantastic news for visually impaired local residents. The safety improvements will enable people with sight loss to feel safer and more confident to travel by train independently.
"The Government has embarked on an unprecedented investment programme to upgrade our transport network and I am pleased that stations Wealden are already benefiting from this project. Having already secured multi-million-pound funding for vital accessibility improvements at Eridge and Crowborough, I will continue working with Network Rail to secure better services for Wealden residents.”
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