Kent disabled woman gets ticket to opposite platform

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A disabled woman has received an apology after she was told she had to go on a 45 minute return train journey to get to the opposite platform.
Wheelchair user Julie Cleary, 53, of Staplehurst, Kent, could not reach the correct platform at the town's station because the lift was unmanned.
She was told to get a return ticket to Ashford so she could reach the other side of the tracks.
Southeastern Railway said the lift can now be used unmanned at any time.
Ms Cleary said she needed to reach the other platform because the only exit to the station was located on that side.
She said: "I was astonished. Angry, at the fact that they'd spent all that money making this station accessible and it wasn't. We assumed you could remotely access it [the lift] by calling the help point, but apparently you had to pre-book it and my only option was to get a train to Ashford, cross the tracks and come back to access the other platform."
The lift had been installed as part of Network Rail's Access to All programme, which saw ^370m spent on delivering accessible routes throughout stations across the country.
Jon Hay-Campbell, of Southeastern Railway, said the company had apologised to Ms Cleary.
He said equipment had now been installed which meant the lifts could be used day and night without assistance.
He added: "We appreciate how frustrating this is for all the passengers."

[Henry]

 I think we have similar problems at Dawlish.

 A few years back I had disabled relatives staying at the Railway convalescent place in Dawlish.
 Coming down from the north, had to change at Newton Abbot to go back.
 I think it is impossible to make all railway buildings disabled 'friendly', my disabled relatives realise this.
 So they plan their journeys accordingly.
 I think FGW^▸ (First Great Western) deserve credit, during the recent rail replacement, a taxi was pre-ordered for a wheel chair user from Newton Abbot to Exeter.

 

[Brucey]

Isn't there a track crossing at Dawlish, which can be used by disabled people when supervised by the station staff?

[eightf48544]

Isn't there a track crossing at Dawlish, which can be used by disabled people when supervised by the station staff?

A track crossing that's against the all the "Elf and Safety Taliban " stand for. Even if it has warning lights as at Slough.

[devon_metro]

Isn't there a track crossing at Dawlish, which can be used by disabled people when supervised by the station staff?

A track crossing that's against the all the "Elf and Safety Taliban " stand for. Even if it has warning lights as at Slough.

The Dawlish crossing is frequently used when a PTS^▸ (Personal Track Safety) member of staff can assist.

[Zoe]

The track crossing from platforms 3/4 to platform 2 at Taunton was often used by to assist disabled passengers to platform 2 before the elevator was installed.

[Henry]

 There was never a problem at Dawlish, until the long serving member of staff retired last year.

 Last Summer there were a few instances where casual staff were employed who could not use the crossing.
 Also, as with the article, Dawlish is not  staffed in the evenings.

[Brucey]

Perhaps I'm not thinking along the lines of health and safety here, but why is PTS^▸ (Personal Track Safety) needed to cross a railway line?

Unmanned crossings in the middle of the countryside are operated by joe public who don't have PTS, so why would station staff need PTS?  Surely a few minutes training should be enough to cross a track?

[eightf48544]

Not sure about needing PST qualification but station staff do need training in how to use a crossing.

After all Joe Public occasionaly gets knocked down on unmanned occupation crossing, which is the railways fault!.

[thetrout]

He's an interesting one for you... I remember raising it with a couple of members at the TravelWatch South West Conference over lunch.

Bournemouth - Gatwick Airport, there are 2 key tickets that are available, there is a third ticket via Havant, but I am specifying the most logical route/Direct:

Route 1: CLAPHAM JUNCTION - NOT LONDON - First Anytime Day Single with Disabled Railcard ^46.35
Route 2: ANY PERMITTED - First Anytime Day Single with Disabled Railcard ^64.95

Now, if you have limited/poor mobility or are in a wheelchair, Clapham Junction is far from ideal to change at. They are installing Lifts, but the work isn't yet finished.

So if Clapham Junction isn't a suitable option to change at, why should you be forced to fork out the extra ^18.60 just to change at a more appropriate station...??!

Does anyone know what the Disabled Passengers Policy for Southern/SWT^▸ (South West Trains) on routes such as this actually is...? It would be really interesting to know, As I have been known to make this journey with others who aren't quite as fortunate as me on the mobility side of things...

[smokey]

If a track crossing is an authorised walking route PTS^▸ (Personal Track Safety) is not required.

I was at Plymouth years ago and a passenger in a wheelchair was on a train that arrived at Platform 5, however due to a medical issue they couldn't be taken in a lift.

The Gunnislake Unit was between workings in Platform 3 and made a Special working to Platform 5 or 6 and back.