New plans have been launched today to give people across Wales
greater confidence and independence when travelling.
Travel for All establishes five key principles to transform
transport networks: ensuring people feel safe and welcome,
improving accessibility, involving users in design decisions, and
embedding lasting change across all transport modes.
Transport providers will receive new standards and practical
guidance developed with disabled people, while customer-facing
staff across rail, bus and other services will undertake regular
training on equality issues including disability awareness.
Physical barriers will be tackled through improved lighting,
accessible routes, and better facilities at stations and stops.
The launch takes place at Wrexham Gateway Project, where
accessibility improvements are already underway, including
improved tactile paving, accessible doors, changing places
facilities, and obstacle-free routes.
Members of the current Transport for Wales Access and Inclusion
Panel have been involved in the Wrexham Gateway project, advising
on the accessibility improvements including new help points.
Amanda Say is a panel member and uses
public transport several times a week to get her to meetings and
for leisure. She said: "In terms of accessibility, it can be
quite a challenge to plan any journey. It is getting better.
Travelling by train is probably the easiest, while buses are much
more challenging. If we can link all active travel routes
together, that journey – for everybody – is going to get much
easier.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, , said: "Accessibility and inclusivity aren't
optional extras - they are fundamental rights. Wrexham Gateway
shows what can be achieved when we develop transport
infrastructure in partnership with disabled people, putting their
expertise and lived experience at the heart of design decisions.
“Building accessibility into our infrastructure from the
beginning not only saves time and money by avoiding retrofits,
but ensures it's always at the forefront of everyone's minds.”
Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport
and Integration at Transport for Wales, added: “We're
committed to delivering transport projects that are accessible
and inclusive for all, and place people at the centre of design
so customers feel safe and welcome when travelling in Wales.
Travel for All will be a key guide to ensuring we're removing
travel barriers across our transport network.
“The Wrexham Gateway project is a great example of putting the
plan's principles into practice from design to delivery, by
improving accessibility, customer experience and ensuring that
Wrexham General station is an attractive gateway to Wrexham city
centre.”
Travel for All supports the Welsh Government's broader commitment
to disability rights through the current consultation on the
10-year Disabled People's Rights
Plan. The plan aims to create a Wales where disabled people
can live, work and thrive without facing entrenched barriers,
focusing on improving physical accessibility, economic inclusion,
and access to public services. The consultation closes on 7
August 2025 and seeks input from disabled people and their
families across Wales.
Notes to editors
The current Transport for Wales Access and Inclusion Panel's
remit is rail, and as part of Travel for All, the group will
expand to become an all-Wales Disabled People's Travel Panel, led
by disabled people, to provide ongoing advice to Welsh Government
and Transport for Wales on making all our networks more
inclusive.
