Fewer than three per cent of disabled train passengers consider rail replacement services fully accessible, according to research from Great British Rail Replacement (GBRR).
Data from GBRR, part of the CMAC Group, found that only 2.8 per cent of 145 disabled UK rail users surveyed said rail replacement services were fully accessible. The GBRR Rail Accessibility White Paper also reported that approximately 66 per cent of disabled passengers experienced a deteriorating service in the past year, with 30 per cent left without a viable alternative during disruption.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) noted that over 80,000 rail services in Great Britain were fully or partially cancelled between January and March 2026. A spokesperson for the ORR acknowledged progress in providing accessible rail replacement services but stated there is "further to go" to support passengers.
GBRR is advocating for accessibility to be considered in wider network resilience planning before disruption occurs. The group views the UK government's plan to renationalise rail services through Great British Railways (GBR) as an opportunity to integrate accessibility with consistent national standards.