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Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to https://wmre.org.uk/

This website is run by West Midlands Combined Authority on behalf of West Midlands Rail Executive.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. We are working to identify and fix the issues, and to improve access for everyone.

How accessible this website is

We know that some parts of this website are not fully accessible.

The issues identified affect a range of interactions and content across the site, particularly where pages rely on navigation components, dynamic content, or multi-step forms.

These issues may affect users who rely on screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, mobile assistive technologies, high levels of zoom, or alternative pointing methods such as head tracking, face recognition, or switch devices.

Examples of the types of issues identified include:

  • Navigation menus and expandable components that do not consistently manage focus or expose their state correctly to assistive technologies
  • Skip links and other mechanisms intended to help users bypass repeated content that do not behave consistently across devices
  • Search and navigation controls that are difficult to discover or do not remain available during interaction
  • Form controls and validation messages that do not always provide clear feedback or announcements to screen reader users
  • Checkboxes and other controls where the current state is not clearly conveyed visually or programmatically
  • Focus moving to unexpected locations when content updates, such as after activating buttons or progressing through multi-step forms
  • Content structure issues where headings, relationships, or grouping are not always conveyed programmatically
  • Non-text content and visual cues that are not consistently conveyed to users of assistive technology
  • A lack of orientation aids, such as an HTML sitemap, which can make it harder for some users to understand and navigate the overall structure of the website

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please contact us using any of the following methods:

  • Online: Contact Form
  • Email: customer.services@tfwm.org.uk
  • Call: 0345 303 6760
  • Write to Customer Services, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD
  • We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 10 working days.

There is more information about what we can provide and our process in our reasonable adjustments policy.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website


We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the Equalities Team:

  • Email: EqualitiesTeam@wmca.org.uk
  • Call: 0345 303 6760 and ask for the Equalities Team
  • Write to: Equalities Team, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops. 

You can read more about reasonable adjustments we are able to provide.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

West Midlands Rail Executive is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations (WCAG 2.2 AA)

Priority A

1.1.1 Non-text Content
Some non-text content does not have appropriate text alternatives. This includes decorative or informational images and icons where the purpose or meaning is not consistently conveyed to users of assistive technology.

1.3.1 Info and Relationships
Information, structure, and relationships are not always conveyed programmatically. This includes issues with headings, grouped form controls, tables used for layout, and expandable components where relationships are not clearly exposed to assistive technology.

2.1.1 Keyboard
Some functionality is not fully operable using a keyboard. This includes navigation components and form interactions that do not consistently support reliable keyboard operation.

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
Mechanisms to bypass repeated content do not always work as intended. This includes skip links that do not consistently move focus to the main content area across devices.

2.4.3 Focus Order
Focus order does not always preserve meaning and operability. This includes focus moving to unexpected locations such as footers, skipping headings, or remaining on visually hidden content.

Priority AA

1.4.1 Use of Colour
Visual cues are sometimes used without sufficient additional indicators. This includes form controls where colour alone does not reliably convey state or meaning.

1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
Some text and visual elements do not meet minimum colour contrast requirements. This can make content difficult to read for users with low vision or colour vision deficiencies, particularly where text is displayed over images or coloured backgrounds.

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)
Some links do not have a clear purpose when read out of context, which can make navigation more difficult for screen reader users.

2.4.6 Headings and Labels
Headings and labels do not always clearly describe topic or purpose. This includes navigation controls, form labels, and expandable components that are ambiguous or insufficiently descriptive.

2.4.7 Focus Visible
Some interactive elements do not provide a clear visible focus indicator when navigated using a keyboard. This can make it difficult for keyboard users to identify their current position on the page and operate controls reliably.

2.5.1 Pointer Gestures
Some functionality relies on specific pointer behaviour. This includes controls that appear or disappear based on pointer movement, which can prevent reliable use with alternative pointing methods.

3.2.2 On Input
Some components change context when input is provided without clearly informing the user. This includes dynamic updates where content changes but focus does not move appropriately.

3.2.4 Consistent Identification
Interactive components that perform the same function are not always identified consistently across the site, which can cause confusion for users of assistive technology.

3.3.1 Error Identification
When form validation errors occur, error messages are not always clearly identified or announced to users of assistive technology. This can prevent users from understanding why a form submission has failed and what needs to be corrected.

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
User interface components do not always expose the correct name, role, or state. This includes buttons, expandable components, and form controls where state is not reliably communicated.

4.1.3 Status Messages
Status messages and validation feedback are not always communicated to users of assistive technology. This includes form errors and dynamic updates that are not announced to screen readers.

Disproportionate burden

We have not identified any disproportionate burden at this time.

Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

WCAG AAA Guidelines

1.4.8 Visual Presentation
There is no mechanism provided to allow users to adjust text size or colour contrast beyond browser or assistive technology defaults.

PDFs and other documents

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. We are reviewing these documents and will prioritise remediation or replacement with accessible HTML where appropriate.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are currently reviewing these issues and expect them to be fixed by October 2027.

We will update the accessibility statement when issues are fixed.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This website was last tested on 19 January 2026. The test was carried out by Access by Audit.

This accessibility statement was produced by Access by Audit and reviewed by West Midlands Combined Authority in June 2026.