Don’t mind the gap: level boarding commitment for new trains

New publicly-run trains will aim to have level boarding as standard to improve accessibility, as part of the government’s strategy for new trains, announced 28 September 2026.

Great British Railways (GBR) will make unassisted level boarding between the train and platform a baseline expectation for all new trains wherever possible, in a move towards greater accessibility on the rail network.

This means passengers with disabilities, mobility difficulties and others who need assistance, such as parents with pushchairs and those travelling with luggage, will benefit from much easier journeys, giving everyone more freedom to travel independently.

This commitment is part of the wider drive to improve accessibility across the rail network as nationalisation removes the barriers that stop operators and Network Rail working together to reach solutions that best meet passenger needs.

The government is investing £280 million in step-free access through the Access for All programme, with over 30 schemes now underway across England, Scotland and Wales.

This builds on last year’s Roadmap to an Accessible Railway, which set out improvements to day-to-day travel for passengers needing assistance ahead of GBR’s establishment.

Great British Railways will set an expectation that new trains are designed to reduce barriers between train carriages and standard Network Rail platforms.