UK — Making the UK's transport network fully accessible to disabled passengers could boost the economy by £176 billion, according to a new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The Institution stated the cost to make the rail network completely accessible would be between £20 billion and £24 billion.

The report specified that the current transport system is inaccessible to nearly a quarter of the working-age population. It found that about 2.8 million individuals are effectively excluded from the workforce due to transport barriers. The Institution calculated that integrating these 2.8 million people into jobs could contribute £176.4 billion annually to the national economy, based on the Office for National Statistics' estimate of an average worker's annual economic output at approximately £63,000.

Almost half of disabled professionals have declined job opportunities because of transport difficulties, the report noted. Closing the accessibility gap could generate between £10 billion and £34 billion in additional annual fare revenue for transport operators. There is also a potential £22.3 billion annual increase for the retail, leisure, and tourism sectors as disabled individuals take more public transport trips.

James Partington, Director of Engineering Policy and Impact at the Institution, said: "Britain does not have a transport problem. It has a growth problem disguised as a transport problem." He added: "Fixing accessibility is not just the right thing to do, it is one of the fastest ways to unlock jobs, boost the economy and future-proof the country." Partington also stated: "The prize is enormous. The cost of doing nothing is even bigger."

The Institution called on the government to consider tax incentives for accessibility upgrades to encourage private investment. The organization also advocated for inclusive design to become a core engineering requirement. The report said: "Inaccessible buses, trains and stations are not just a social failure, they are a massive economic own goal, holding back growth, productivity and the UK's path to net zero."

Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced billions of pounds in cuts to infrastructure projects across the UK. These cuts are intended to help fund a £15 billion increase in defense spending over four years. Chancellor Rachel Reeves argued that reducing infrastructure funding would be a mistake, suggesting that previous cuts had weakened economic growth.