Crossrail demonstrates commitment to disability equality

20th September 2009

Crossrail Ltd, the company behind the largest addition to Britain’s transport system for more than 50 years, has become the latest organisation to join Employers' Forum on Disability’s (EFD) gold group.

Crossrail is an exciting new railway for London and the South-East. It is the largest addition to the transport network in the region for more than 50 years. It will deliver a world-class, affordable railway, with a high frequency, convenient and accessible train service across the capital from 2017.

Terry Morgan, Crossrail’s Chairman, said: “Crossrail prides itself on its commitment to deliver a world class railway, accessible to everyone. We will be working with accessibility groups throughout the design and construction of the railway so that no priority group is disadvantaged either during the building of Crossrail or when it becomes operational. We are determined that when it opens in 2017 Crossrail will be at the forefront of driving discrimination from the transport sector.”

Susan Scott-Parker, chief executive of EFD, said: “It is terrific that Crossrail has shown its commitment to getting it right on disability by joining EFD’s gold group. This is excellent news for Crossrail’s disabled employees as well as passengers who will use the new service from 2017.

“The gold group’s commitment underpins EFD’s work. As core funders, their support is fundamental in building our capacity to make it easier to employ disabled people, serve disabled customers and value disabled people as stakeholders.

“We look forward to a sustained and productive relationship for many years to come, and working with Crossrail as it strives towards greater disability confidence.”

Ends

Notes to editors

For Crossrail media enquiries, please contact:

Ankeeta Munsi
Crossrail Press Office
Email: ankeetamunsi@crossrail.co.uk
Telephone: 020 3229 9552

About Crossrail

Crossrail will run 118 km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. When it opens in 2017 Crossrail will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 60 minutes commuting distance of central London. It will increase London's public transport network capacity by 10 per cent, supporting regeneration across the capital, helping to secure London's position as a world leading financial centre, and cutting journey times across the city. The Crossrail Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2008, granting the powers to build the railway, and Crossrail construction began on 15 May 2009 with work commencing at the new Crossrail Canary Wharf station. The main construction programme begins along the route in 2010.

Crossrail will be a modern service catering for a wide range of passengers with varied needs.

Accessible stations:

- Crossrail will improve accessibility to key locations on the route.

- There will be independent step-free access from street level to Crossrail platforms in both directions at 28 out of 37 of its stations.

- Newly built Crossrail Stations will have marked routes, step-free access, simple signage and information to ensure that the majority of passengers can move independently through stations.

- There will be step-free access between Crossrail platforms and other National Rail and London Underground platforms where this is possible, given the constraints of the existing Tube and national rail network, much of which was built many decades ago.

There will be level access from platform to Crossrail trains in Crossrail's central London underground stations and at Heathrow.

Accessible trains:

- Crossrail trains will have dedicated space for wheelchairs.

- Each carriage will provide both visual and audio information about the train's journey, and a facility to alert and speak to the driver in the event of an emergency.

- Drivers will also be able to view CCTV images of all carriage interiors.

www.crossrail.co.uk

Media enquiries, please contact:

Brenda Otema, Communications & Marketing Officer
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: brenda.otema@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020

About Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 300 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.

www.efd.org.uk