7. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the accessibility for disabled people of train stations in Dumfries and Galloway. (S6O-03212)

Dumfries station is currently being upgraded with a new footbridge and lifts to make access to the platforms easier. Although the accessibility of stations is a matter that is reserved to the United Kingdom Government, the Scottish Government is fully supportive of and engaged with the project.

M y officials are independently progressing recommendation 19 of strategic transport projects review 2, on reviewing station accessibility across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway. The review is expected to complete in spring 2024 and, although it is too early to comment on any outcome to the review, recommendation 19 reinforces the Scottish Government’s commitment to improve access for all to Scotland’s rail network.

Even after the work at Dumfries station, almost half the stations in the region will still not be fully accessible. In particular, Kirkconnel station has no disabled access whatever to the southbound platform, which means that one of my constituents, who is in a wheelchair, had to stay on the train from Glasgow to Sanquhar, change there and take a northbound train back from Sanquhar to Kirkconnel, because they could not initially get off the train at Kirkconnel. There have been feasibility studies on what is needed to end that discrimination against disabled people, but my constituent wants to know when there will be action to make Kirkconnel station fully accessible.

As I set out in my original answer, the matter is reserved to the UK Government, and the Department for Transport is undertaking the detailed accessibility audit. I appreciate the member’s frustration, and he has set out the concerns of his constituent very well. I will do what I can within my powers to ensure that, once the audit has been completed, identification of the work and the priorities is progressed.