Making Walsall Railway Station safer for people with sight loss

I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport on behalf of blind and partially sighted people in my constituency regarding safety measures at Walsall Railway Station.

Walsall Railway Station does not have “warning tactile” on the edge of its platforms. Warning tactile is an important orientation and safety measure that warns blind and partially sighted people when they are close to the platform edge. My constituents who live with sight loss should be able to use their local station knowing that there is warning tactile on the platforms that helps with their orientation and safety.

The latest data from Network Rails shows that a third of station platforms in Britain do not have this essential safety feature. Network Rail plan to introduce warning tactile in a further 209 stations nationally by 2022, however Walsall Railway Station is not included in this very limited roll-out.

Network Rail said that they are currently working on the basis of all operational platforms being paved by April 2029, subject to funding being agreed with the Department for Transport.

I have asked the Secretary of State to urgently review this deadline and ensure that sufficient funding is agreed with Network Rail to install warning tactile at Walsall Railway Station.