Ideas to help disabled passengers get more from Scotland's rail network are being sought as a new £700,000 fund for local projects is launched.

Transport Scotland has just announced the latest round of funding from the Access for All Small Schemes Fund, which seeks to deliver innovative projects aimed at improving access to rail stations and services for all passengers.

Around £2m has already been invested in a wide range of station improvements over the first two years of the fund, including installation of automatic doors, variable height ticket counters and RNIB-developed navigation systems for blind and visually impaired passengers.

Access for All is a Department for Transport fund, administered in Scotland by Transport Scotland, which was launched in 2006 to address issues at railway stations faced by disabled passengers.

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Since 2006, a total of 31 stations in Scotland have received funding through the Access for All Small Schemes Fund.

Transport Scotland's Rail Accessibility Manager Chris Clark said: "More and more people are using Scotland's rail network every day and we want to ensure passengers face no barriers to accessing rail services.

"The Access for All Small Schemes Fund has already delivered key improvements to stations around the country. However, we are seeking even more innovative ideas to make it easier for disabled passengers to move around our train stations."

Transport Scotland has contributed funding to the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) to create an innovative online information tool to assist disabled passengers. It is hoped the new Journey Planner will be available from October 2009 on the National Rail Enquiries website.

Any organisation interested in applying for funding through the Access for All Small Schemes Fund should visit http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/access/small-schemes-fund

(GK/JM)