A disabled railway user who has acted as an ambassador for upgrading rain stations is helping to drive more improvements.

Beginning this month, a Furness Line Community Rail Partnership (FLCRP) study will look at improving passenger access at Ulverston Railway Station. The study is a collaboration between FLCRP, Network Rail, the Department for Transport (DfT) and train operating company, Northern.

Ulverston resident Tony Jennings has been working with the teams to push for equality for all railway users.

Access to and from the eastbound platform at Ulverston station is currently via two steep stairwells and an underpass, or by using a barrow crossing over the railway track accompanied by station staff.

The barrow crossing must be booked in advance and passengers must be accompanied by a member of staff.

Mr Jennings said: "An inclusive railway benefits everybody.

"I live in Ulverston and want to be able to have inclusion and access to our community because it is a gateway to the Lakes and it is really good for connectivity so that we can get access to other places.

"If you want to go to London you would need to get to Oxenholme which currently, for a mobility scooter user, you would have to go to Barrow as your nearest accessible station and then get a train back to Oxenholme to change to get onto the Avanti West Coast line.

"At the moment there is a taxi provided but the problem is if you use a mobility scooter or wheelchair you would need that to be a WAV taxi to take you to where you want to go, and that doesn't lend itself to spontaneous travel because you need to book that a long way in advance and our plans can change just the same as a non-disabled persons.

"If your plans change it makes it difficult.

"Ulverston has a big footprint with big employers and it is a tourist destination in its own right.

"I think that for me that's why we need a much better inclusive railway network and we have to start somewhere."