The Department for Transport has confirmed that unassisted level boarding will become a mandatory requirement for all new trains across the national rail network.
The commitment, announced on 29 September 2026, marks a significant shift in how future rolling stock will be designed for Great British Railways (GBR). The policy aims to eliminate the need for manual ramps and staff intervention for wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs, and passengers carrying heavy luggage.
The change is a core pillar of the newly published ‘Great British Railways: rolling stock and infrastructure strategy’. Under these new rules, manufacturers of future trains must treat level boarding as a “baseline expectation,” ensuring the train floor aligns with standard platform heights to allow passengers to board and alight independently.
A gradual transition
While the new standards will apply to all future train orders, the transition across the UK network will be gradual. The policy focuses on new rolling stock, meaning older fleets currently in service will remain until they reach the end of their operational life and are scheduled for replacement.
Official strategy documents acknowledge that achieving universal level boarding across a 200-year-old network presents significant physical challenges. Historical infrastructure often features varying platform heights and significant curvature, which complicates the interface between the platform edge and the train door. As such, while new trains will be built to the standard, some legacy stations may still require infrastructure adjustments to meet the train floor perfectly.
Infrastructure investment
The move to improve train design is being supported by a parallel investment in station infrastructure. The government is currently investing £280 million into the ‘Access for All’ programme, which focuses on providing step-free routes at stations.
According to the latest figures, there are more than 30 step-free access schemes currently active across England, Scotland, and Wales. These upgrades are intended to complement the new train designs, although the Department for Transport notes that the diverse nature of the UK’s rail history means some locations will require more complex engineering solutions than others.
By making level boarding the default for new procurement, Great British Railways aims to move towards a more inclusive network where independent travel is the standard rather than the exception.