Northwich disabled commuters ‘excluded by design’ at station

Network Rail, train firms and strategic organisations can apply for the funding, but Northwich was not successful in the last round.

The programme was launched in 2006 and the government said it had implemented step-free access at more than 260 stations as of May 2025.

Government data shows that across Great Britain, 61% of stations have step-free access.

In the North West, 58% of the region’s stations have step-free access.

Lynne Turnbull, the chief executive of Northwich-based Disability Positive, said the situation was “challenging” for those who wanted to travel to or from the town.

“It’s incredibly frustrating as a disabled woman to still be having the conversations, not just that we’re in 2025 but the same conversations we were having in 2021 following the collapse,” she said.

“The Equality Act, which has been out since 2010, has got the rights for all protected characteristics, including disability.

“Sometimes it feels like disability is the poor relation of the Equality Act.”

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