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Liverpool City Region’s new £500m hi-tech trains fleet project has scooped a top national award for accessibility.
The Class 777 fleet entered service on the Merseyrail network in January 2023 after being designed with help from disabled passengers, advocacy groups and accessibility experts, to make sure they met the needs of all rail passengers.
The joint submission from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Merseyrail and train manufacturer Stadler came out on top in the ‘Accessibility Achievement of the Year’ category, beating off competition from the likes of Network Rail, Northern Rail and Transport for London.
The judges described the submission as “a strong entry that shows excellent best practice for the industry in multiple area. Taking an educated approach and listening to customers from the start, our winners considered all types of disabilities and access requirements to provide full accessibility for public transport journeys.”
The city region’s game-changing new trains have made a huge difference to passengers with additional accessibility requirements, allowing more people to travel independently and setting a benchmark for the rail industry. Other operators have visited the region to see how it can be done, and industry watchdog Transport Focus has showcased the fleet as an example of best practice.
For 18 months during the design stage, more than 40 local residents helped make more than 30 individual design decisions, ensuring the trains met a wide range of needs from mobility issues to sensory impairments and less visible disabilities.
The most significant change was the introduction of sliding-step technology which allowed level boarding from platform to train, making them the most accessible trains in the UK – a move recently praised by British Paralympic legend and disability rights campaigner Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson on a visit to the region.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted at the recognition we have received at this year’s National Rail Awards, for the positive impact our new trains have had in making our rail network more accessible.
“We’ve always believed that accessible, affordable and sustainable transport is not just a goal but a right that every community should enjoy. When we were designing and planning our new trains, we were clear that we needed to take this huge opportunity to open up our network to more people, allowing them to travel independently.
“The impact that has had is clear to see, but we’re not stopping there – we want to make sure every station in our city region has step-free access from pavement to platform by 2030 and will continue to work towards that aim.”
Neil Grabham, Managing Director of Merseyrail, said:
“This award is a proud moment for everyone involved in delivering the Liverpool City Region’s new trains. For thousands of people, these trains have enabled truly independent rail travel for the first time, giving them the freedom to move confidently and without assistance.”
“But we know true accessibility is about more than just trains. That’s why we are continuing to work closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to improve accessibility even further.
“By installing more lifts at our stations and with our friendly station teams on hand from first to last train, we’re committed to making every journey inclusive and welcoming.”
Paul Patrick, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service UK, said:
“Stadler is known for its ground-breaking rolling stock, which enhances accessibility and helps promote an inclusive railway.
“Sliding step technology is one of our trains’ hallmarks, making public transport easier and more convenient and enabling more people to move around independently.
“We are delighted that these trains have been recognised by a range of stakeholders within the rail industry and that our trains are having a genuinely positive effect on passengers’ day-to-day travel experience.”
Merseyrail were also shortlisted in six other categories:
The National Rail Awards are organised by RAIL Magazine and took place in London, with 21 categories up for grabs. Over 1,000 people were in attendance, with ITV News’ Nina Hossain host for the evening.
RAIL Editor Dickon Ross said the night “remains the best night of the year for those who love and work in rail and want to celebrate the best it has to offer”.
