In the new year, four Community Rail Partnerships will come together in a major new initiative to help disabled people use the railway with more confidence.

The initiative, made possible by a grant from the Motability Foundation, will involve four core delivery partners who already have experience in this type of work: Community Rail Lancashire; GO Community Rail Partnership (Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire); Severnside Community Rail Partnership; and Southeast Communities Rail Partnership.

Working with local inclusion and disability partners, the partnership aims to engage with 1,500 disabled people with diverse needs and lived experiences to develop their skills and awareness when travelling by rail.

They will also draw on their experiences to help them get more enjoyment from travelling by train.

Evidence shows that many disabled people face barriers when travelling by train. Research carried out by the charity Scope shows 54% of disabled people often or always feel anxious using public transport, and 30% say difficulties with public transport reduce their mobility.

Experience with the Community Rail Network shows the benefits of empowering disabled people by having meaningful engagement with them and making changes to break down barriers, railways and other modes of travel can be opened up.

The initiative will make sure that the experiences of disabled people will be foremost their insights are shared with railway partners and decision-makers at both local and national levels. They will help shape a more inclusive railway, especially through the process of rail reform.

The programme will be coordinated by the Community Rail Network, which will gather evidence and insights, and involve its wider membership of 75 community rail partnerships and 325 station groups.

They will share good practices and support wider activity by providing small grants and advice so that more of its members can start similar initiatives in their local areas, such as the Ipswich to Cambridge Community Rail Partnership that started in October.

The value of Community Rail Partnership can be seen in Great Yarmouth, where a vital link that connects the town’s station with the town centre, holiday parks, and seafront was able to continue running thanks to funding from the local Community Rail Partnership.

“We’re thrilled to be getting this important programme underway, at a crucial time as the railway embarks on a period of major transformation. We know from our members’ experiences working with the disabled community, and people in diverse circumstances, that too many people feel excluded from our railway. But we also see up close the incredible benefits that can be unlocked through meaningful engagement, building travel awareness, skills and confidence, and, crucially, drawing on disabled people’s expertise by experience, to affect wider change. Enabling people who previously felt unable to use rail to start accessing the opportunities it can open up – training, employment, leisure and social opportunities – can be life-changing. Ultimately, we’re working towards a truly inclusive railway, and all disabled people being able to travel with confidence.”

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network