RNIB welcomes Network Rail commitment to install tactile paving at all rail stations within two years

As we mark the third anniversary of Cleveland’s death, Network Rail has promised to speed up the installation of tactile paving, or tactile, on all railway platforms in Britain. It has funding to complete installation by 2025.

This news was confirmed in the House of Commons, in an answer to a Parliamentary Question from Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central. The Minister for Transport, Huw Merriman MP, stated: “We remain fully committed to fitting tactile paving at all remaining mainline stations and have funded Network Rail to install tactile paving at all GB stations by 2025.”

We were originally told by Network Rail that the rollout of tactile paving would not be completed until 2029 without further Government funding.

Nine years is too long to wait for platform safety

We are pleased to see progress following our campaign. Two years ago, only half of British mainline station platforms were fitted with tactile. Thanks to your persistent campaigning, this is now 60 per cent.

Sekha Hall, Cleveland’s partner, who has campaigned for the installation of tactile, said: “Cleveland loved life and wouldn't want anything to happen to anyone else. He was a people person who told great stories, had friends all over the globe, livened up any party, and adored birds and animals. He'd stay up late on a winter's night listening to the foxes and the song of a robin.”

He has a message for the campaign’s supporters:

We’re also pleased to see this recent update from Scotland, which confirms that Network Rail, working in collaboration with ScotRail, has begun work to install tactile paving at 148 stations across Scotland. The work, which should be complete within 12 months, will ensure all Scotland’s 362 stations have tactile.

We will continue to monitor Network Rail’s progress until there are no train platforms without tactile paving in Britain.