How to people in wheelchairs get over train station bridges, with no alternative route??

Question

How to people in wheelchairs get over train station bridges, with no alternative route??

Answer 1

They are moved over the luggage crossings outside the platforms, duh...

Answer 2

With gret difficulty, have a number of stations in our area with no access for disabelled passengers, so the theory is they are over carried to the next availiable point and a taxi is provided at company expense to convey them to the station, area required, IF they have pre booked assistance via the Disabelled website, otherwise, they will be over carried to the next availiable stop only.

Answer 3

Train companies have to make reasonable steps to accommodate disabled passengers at all stations but it is simply not practical to provide lifts at every station so passengers will sometimes need to travel to the nearest accessible station to cross the line-in some circumstances a taxi may be provided.

Answer 4

Unfortunately they have to use a station that does accommodate wheelchairs , and then probably get a taxi the rest of the way , if indeed they can find a taxi that is able to accommodate them

The transport system is improving , but slowly , in terms of accommodating wheelchairs , plus old and infirm .

Answer 5

they have to use another station!  or a taxi or another means of travel.

Routes have to be very carefully planned to avoid stations like that

Answer 6

Very good point!!! Have a star.

Answer 7

Most stations have a place where you can cross over the tracks. This is particularly true of smaller rural stations, I'm guessing larger, more modern ones have facilities built in.

Answer 8

I do remember a few years ago, a passenger in a wheelchair wanting to get off the train at Kings Cross Thameslink: the lift had broken down on her side of the station, so she was told to get a train to Luton, change there for a train back to London and then get off at the other platform...doing so made her 3 hours late for her meeting...

...she had come from Brighton to  be part of a parliamentary commission on accessible transport...

Answer 9

In the UK, every Train Operating Company is required to have a Disabled Passengers Protection Policy, which sets out what they will do to assist such passengers.

In general, this would mean providing either an accessible taxi (at no cost to the passenger) from an accessible station, or permitting the passenger to override for an accessible connection.

For example, Denham station has level access from the London bound platform, but not from the High Wycombe bound one.

A passenger travelling from London towards Denham would need to travel on to Gerrards Cross (where there is a lift), from where they can take a train back to Denham.

If the lift was out of service at Gerrards Cross (e.g. because the station was unstaffed), they'd need to travel to either Denham Golf Club or Beaconsfield, both of which have level access, and use the help point on the platform to request a taxi.

Answer 10

Very slowly !!!!!

Answer 11

Stations have people called porters (at least they used to), who will assist them.

This used to happen to my sister-in-law when she had a broken leg (the station has since had a lift installed).

Answer 12

Interesting reply from rdenig, my local rural station has very, very steep iron steps down to the platform and no alternative i.e no staff and no path accross the line! I am fortunate not to be in a disabled position but do have a pram with twins!!

Answer 13

They are pushed across wooden crossings which workmen use to push equipment across the line. In the Undergorund wheelchairs are carried up and down the stairs to the platforms. I know this as I have had to take my sister who is permanantly wheelchair bound and at university studying polotics at Dundee across the rail lines to the other platforms.

Answer 14

omg that is like the best question ever

but sadly i have no idea!

Answer 15

In the UK and as a result of legislation forbidding discrimination against the less able bodied, all public places have to be wheelchair friendly. As a result, stations should have a lift and bridge to enable persons in wheelchairs to get from one platform to the other. Where there is not one existing, then wherever possible it is being provided. In the interim, and if the station is manned and there is a barrow crossing (like a level crossing) a member of staff will take the less abled passenger across the lines. An article in the current edition of Railway Magazine (February 2008) describes how this is done at Grantham, Lincolnshire, where trains pass every 10 minutes or so at speeds in excess of 100mph. Passengers must not cross the line alone because of the danger. It is true that there have been stories from time to time of wheelchair bound passengers having to travel to the next station, perhaps 20 or 30 miles away and crossing there to catch a train back

Edit To Stephen - moan about it then, if you haven't already done so. Write to Network Rail, your local newspaper etc.

Answer 16

Have you never watched Little Briton?