Corporate report
DPTAC work programme updates
Updated 24 February 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dptac-working-groups/dptac-work-programme-updates
This page features quarterly updates on the work of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
See DPTAC annual reports for more information on DPTAC’s work.
Future work
January to March 2026
| Upcoming work item | Working group |
|---|---|
| Provide initial advice on the terms of reference for the upcoming Law Commission review of accessibility legislation. | All |
| Provide further advice on the development of the accessible travel charter. | All |
| Continue engagement with officials on the upcoming Law Commission review of accessibility legislation, initially advising on the terms of reference. | All |
| Provide advice on the ‘Manual for Streets’. | Personal Mobility |
| Continue to advise Centre for Connected and Automated vehicles (CCAV) on accessibility around automated vehicles and the development of the accessibility advisory panel. | Personal Mobility |
| Advise on the ongoing implementation of the steps set out in the rail accessibility roadmap. | Rail |
| Participate in the Accessibility Task Force linked to the development of the long-term rail strategy. | Rail |
| Provide advice on an Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) exemption application from Talyllyn Railway Company. | Rail |
| Contribute to a workshop on understanding disability coordinated by Rail Research team. | Research and evidence |
| Engage with officials on potential statutory instruments for priority spaces on buses and exemption notices for taxis. | Local Transport |
| Engage with officials on the department’s transport data action plan. | Research and Evidence |
Work carried out
October to December 2025
| Work item | Working group |
|---|---|
| Provided advice on the development of the accessible travel charter. | All |
| Provided advice to the CCAV on the Automated Passenger Services (APS) Permitting Scheme consultation and Accessibility Advisory Panel. | All |
| Provided advice on the department’s review of their approach to transport resilience. | All |
| Attended the accessibility four nations meeting of DPTAC, Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee, Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and the Welsh Government. | All |
| Provided advice on the latest version of the Integrated National Transport Strategy, due to be published in early 2026. | All |
| Engaged with officials on station modernisation and accessibility. | Rail |
| Engaged with West Coast Partnership development on their collaboration with the department, HS2 and Network Rail. | Rail |
| Participated in the ongoing work of the National Accessibility Group (NAG) | Rail |
| Submitted advice on Great Western Railway Class 230001 ACC NTSN dispensation request. | Rail |
| Joined the newly formed Accessibility Road Map Delivery Board. | Rail |
| Provided advice on the compliance of home to school and rail replacement coach services with Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) and Accessible Information Regulations (AIR). | Local Transport |
| Provided advice on the latest draft of updated enhanced partnerships guidance for buses. | Local Transport |
| Reviewed the ‘Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy 3’ consultation. | Personal Mobility |
| Reviewed and provided advice on Bus stop infrastructure guidance. | Personal Mobility |
| Provided advice on pavement parking research surveys | Personal Mobility |
| Provided feedback on the Think research report on disabled and non-disabled users of rail. | Research and evidence |
| Engaged with officials on ongoing personal safety on transport research. | Research and evidence |
July to September 2025
| Work item | Working group |
|---|---|
| Provided feedback on the draft rail accessibility roadmap. | Rail |
| Provided advice to DfT officials on station accessibility data and prioritisation. | Rail |
| Reviewed advice on the code of practice for station accessibility. | Rail |
| Provided advice regarding alarm pull cords in train and station toilets. | Rail |
| Provided further feedback on the government’s response to the railways bill consultation. | Rail |
| Provided advice on the Greater Anglia Trains accessible travel policy. | Rail |
| In September, inducted 3 new members of the committee. | All |
| Provided initial advice on the accessible travel charter. | All |
| Provided further advice on the development of the Integrated National Transport Strategy. | All |
| Provided advice on communications around the accessibility of the new entry / exit system (EES) system at UK ports. | Aviation and Maritime |
| Supported the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group as it published its recommendations. | Aviation and Maritime |
| Submitted advice on the accessibility considerations to be included in the statutory guidance for bus services grants. | Local Transport |
| Provided advice to the department on the enhanced partnerships review. | Local Transport |
| Held discussions with officials regarding 2 statutory instruments of 1. Taxi and PHV accessibility exemption notices. 2. Conduct regulations regarding wheelchair space priority on buses. | Local Transport |
| Provided feedback and advice on floating bus stop infrastructure research specification. | Local Transport / Personal Mobility |
| Held discussions with officials on the powered mobility devices regulatory review, including the draft consultation. | Personal Mobility |
| Provided feedback to Active Travel England (ATE) on the inclusive crossings report. | Personal Mobility |
| Submitted advice on Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899 and assistance requirements | Personal Mobility |
| Held discussions with the CCAV on the findings of the accessibility research published in June and on the roadmap for the introduction of the Automated Passenger Services (APS) permitting scheme. | Research and Evidence / Personal Mobility |
| Gave a presentation to DfT analysts on accessible qualitative and quantitative good practice in research. | Research and Evidence |
April to June 2025
| Work item | Working group |
|---|---|
| Provided advice in relation to the consultation on the Railways Bill | Rail |
| Advised on the special rail fare policy for disabled people | Rail |
| Offered guidance on the initial scope of the passenger watchdog | Rail |
| Provided advice on the use of light engineering solutions within the Access for All programme | Rail |
| Reviewed several RVAR exemption requests and consultations | Rail |
| Provided advice on the assessment of the cost and eligibility criteria for the disabled persons railcard | Rail |
| Provided feedback on the recommendations made by the Transport Select Committee in their report, ‘Access Denied’ | All |
| Collaborated with devolved counterparts via the 4 nations meeting | All |
| Contributed to the scoping and accessibility prioritisation of the INTS | All |
| Contributed to the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group, informing recommendations in advance of the final report’s publication | Aviation and Maritime |
| Participated in the maritime accessibility conference, focusing on the prevailing issues, challenges and opportunities pertinent to passenger accessibility within the maritime sector | Aviation and Maritime |
| Provided advice on accessibility communications surrounding the introduction of entry/exit system (EES) at ports and airports | Aviation and Maritime |
| Submitted a position paper concerning the additional accessibility measures incorporated in the Bus Services (no. 2) Bill | Local Transport |
| Supplied further advice regarding the review of Bus Passenger Rights Regulation | Local Transport |
| Provided feedback on the updated guidance for local authorities about the English national concessionary travel scheme | Local Transport |
| Advised on statutory guidance for LTA grant-making powers under the Bus Services Bill | Local Transport |
| Engaged in both the bus centre of excellence bus safety conference and the UK bus manufacturing expert panel | Local Transport |
| Provided preliminary advice on forthcoming guidance for bus stop infrastructure | Local Transport |
| Provided advice on the powered mobility devices regulatory review | Personal Mobility |
| Advised on the ongoing mobility centres review | Personal Mobility |
| Consulted with Active Travel England (ATE) on accessibility research concerning disabled cyclists | Personal Mobility |
| Advised CCAV on accessibility matters related to commercial automated passenger service pilots | Personal Mobility |
| Provided advice on the accessibility of cross-pavement charging technologies | Personal Mobility |
| Conducted desktop research on the use of the ‘purple pound’ as an economic policy instrument in transport | Research and Evidence |