Accessible travel › What step-free means
What “step-free” means at a station
Every station in Great Britain is put in a category by the company that runs it, using the rail regulator’s definitions. Here’s what each one means, and how many of the 2,588 stations are in it.
| Category | What it means | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| A | Yes. Step-free access to and between all platforms whenever trains run, by level access, lifts or ramps built to today’s standards. | 879 |
| B1 | Yes, with some limits. Step-free access to all platforms that many people with reduced mobility can use, but it may include long or steep ramps (up to 1 in 10), and the way between platforms may be by the street, up to 400 m. | 605 |
| B2 | Partly. Step-free access to all platforms, but with major barriers that may stop some people: for example ramps steeper than 1 in 10, more than 400 m between platforms, or lifts that only work when staff are there. | 519 |
| B3 | Only to some platforms. Step-free access to some platforms only, so it may work in one direction only. | 301 |
| C | No. No step-free access to any platform. | 284 |
What stations must say, in the regulator’s words: category A, “This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform”; B1, “Step-free access to all platforms - may include long or steep ramps. Access between platforms may be via the street.”; B2, “Some step-free access to all platforms - please check details”; B3, “Some step-free access, may be in one direction only - please check details”; category C, “This station does not have step-free access to any platform.”
Check before you go
A step-free station can still let you down on the day: a lift can be out of order, or a route closed for works. See what’s out of order today, or look up your station.
The Office of Rail and Road’s words are quoted from its Accessible Travel Policy guidance (October 2025) and passenger assistance benchmarking (December 2025), under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Station counts: Powered by National Rail Enquiries. Kettle is made by DB Five Ltd and is independent of National Rail and the train companies.