Luton North MP Sarah Owen challenged the government this week over the lack of lifts and ramps at Leagrave station in Luton, Bedfordshire. During a debate on February 9, 2026, she highlighted how the lack of step-free access makes travel difficult for people in wheelchairs, the elderly, and parents with pushchairs.
The station currently has no step-free access to platforms 2 and 3, which National Rail classifies as Category B3 (semi-accessible). This means passengers who cannot use stairs are often forced to use Luton Airport Parkway—the only fully accessible station in the borough—and then take a taxi to complete their journey. For those arriving from the north, this involves traveling past Leagrave to reach an accessible platform.
According to the MP, nearly 2 million journeys are made through the station every year, even though the main footbridge is currently held up by scaffolding due to rust. While official records show the station was previously expected to receive upgrades, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Keir Mather confirmed that the work is not moving forward in the current funding round.
The MP has accused the government of letting the community down and is now gathering views from residents to help build a new case for investment. She has pledged to continue pressing for the improvements to ensure the station can better serve the local community.
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