Luton North MP Sarah Owen used a debate in the House of Commons last night to renew calls for step-free access at Leagrave train station, criticising the government for abandoning previously promised funding and calling for urgent action for Lutonians.
Ms Owen stressed how vital accessible public transport is for her north Luton community, pointing to the frustration of passengers and families who struggle with existing stair-only access. Her comments came a day after Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins confirmed that work is due to begin this week on installing lifts at Luton train station, after years of campaigning by local representatives and community groups.
In the Commons debate with Transport Secretary Keir Mather, Ms Owen said Leagrave users were left “lied to as a community” when the station’s Access for All funding was announced before the general election by the then Conservative government, only to be withdrawn because “there was no money for the scheme and there never had been”.
Describing Leagrave as a “major transport hub” used for nearly 1.5 million journeys a year, she added: “I would love to live in hope that, before I am entirely grey, we will see all stations in every community entirely accessible for all, but I do wonder why it is that many of those stations that were approved for funding actually have fewer journeys than Leagrave station.”
Ms Owen also drew on her own experience: “I have been campaigning to get lifts at Leagrave Station since I was first elected in 2019, and then heavily pregnant with my daughter. When she was born, like every other parent who uses Leagrave Station, I tackled those steep steps with a pram. There was always a member of the public there willing to help, because that is just how Luton is, but we should not have to rely on the kindness of strangers to ensure that we can get our children up and down those stairs safely.”
She put specific pressure on the Department for Transport to explain why a detailed Network Rail feasibility study carried out in 2023 had not led to progress, and to set out clear timelines for delivery if matched funding were secured.
Mr Mather acknowledged the strength of Ms Owen’s case and reiterated that full step-free access at Leagrave was not progressing in the current funding round, partly because of criteria including third-party funding availability. He said future rounds, including potential allocations through the next spending review, might provide an opportunity to take the project forward.
Addressing connectivity in the town, Ms Owen pressed the minister on surface access to the fully accessible Luton Airport Parkway – the town’s other train station – and the commencement of works at Luton Station itself.
She told him: “If anybody can get from the north of Leagrave to Luton Airport Parkway in 20 minutes, they must be travelling in some vehicle that I have never travelled in, because it will take at least half an hour to 45 minutes in bad traffic… I know that my honourable friend, the Member for Luton South and South Bedfordshire (Rachel Hopkins) is really pleased, as are many of us in the town, to finally see work taking place in Luton south.”
Ms Owen concluded by vowing not to give up her campaign and by linking the push for step-free access to wider local growth opportunities, including expansion at Luton Airport and regional development plans.
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