Level Boarding: building a safe, efficient, and modern railway

Standardised Platforms

A rolling programme of platform improvements to bring all platforms up to the UK standard (915mm height, 730mm offset)

"Low-Floor" Rolling Stock

A procurement standard for all new trains to be low-floor, with retractable steps, to match the platform height

Benefits of Level Boarding

A level boarding train leaving the platform

Safety at the platform edge

Level boarding reduces the chance of trips and falls, the biggest safety and fatality risk on our railways today

Independent travel for disabled people

Wheelchair users can use the trains like everyone else without assistance. No more failed assistance requests or delays

Quick and easy boarding for everyone

Everyone, including older people, people with reduced mobility, and passengers with luggage, bikes, and pushchairs, benefits from level access to the trains

Accommodates all UK rail traffic

Using existing standards for platform heights means that all existing UK rail traffic, including freight, can continue to use the network while new trains are rolled out

No more dangerous ramps

Most trains have floors at least 180mm higher than the standard platform, requiring manual boarding ramps. Coupled with non-standard platforms, ramped access can sometimes be dangerously steep 

Realising a modern railway for all

The campaign for level boarding is an independent campaign group of disabled rail users, railway engineers, and interested parties aiming to achieve level boarding across the UK network by 2040.

 

Our aims:

  • Establish a procurement standard for all new trains to be “low-floor”, with extendable gap fillers, to match the platform height
  • A rolling programme of platform improvements to bring all platforms up to the existing UK standard (915mm height, 730mm offset)
  • Raising awareness among the public and media about the benefits of level boarding for everyone

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FAQs

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Case studies

See how level boarding is progressing around the world