TfL and rail operators to face questions on accessibility

8 SEPTEMBER 2010

The Assembly’s Transport Committee will tomorrow question Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail about the accessibility of London’s bus, Underground and rail networks, and how they are working to address problems faced by people with reduced mobility. 

The Committee is examining the experience of people with reduced mobility[1] on public transport across the capital.  How successful are current measures?  What more could be done to make using the network easier for people who face challenges – including people with disabilities, older people, and parents with buggies?

Tomorrow’s hearing follows an open-mic session in June where the Committee heard from people with reduced mobility about a range of issues they face when using public transport.  Many of these issues will be raised tomorrow with the following guests: 

  • Richard Parry, London Underground Strategy and Commercial Director, TfL;
  • Mike Weston, Operations Director for Surface Transport, TfL;
    • Ian Brown, Managing Director, London Rail, TfL
    • Geoff Hobbs, Head of Planning, London Rail, TfL;
    • Gary Tordoff, Route Enhancement Manager and ‘Access for All’ Programme sponsor, Network Rail;
    • David Sindall, Head of Disability & Inclusion, ATOC.

The Committee will also question guests from TfL about the ‘runaway’ engineering train incident on the Northern Line on 13 August.

The Transport Committee meeting will take place on Thursday, 9 September from 2.30pm in Committee Room 5 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).  

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.   The meeting can also be viewed via webcast at: http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/webcasts

Notes for Editors:

  1. The investigation will work to the EU definition of a person with reduced mobility, available here.  
  2. See more details about the Committee’s investigation and find out how you can get involved here.
  3. Full agenda papers for the meeting on 23 June are available here.
  4. The Chair of the Transport Committee, Val Shawcross AM, is available for interview.  See contact details below.
  5. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For media enquiries, please contact Mark Demery / Julie Wheldon / Lisa Moore on 020 7983 4283.  For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.