randyrippley
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2016
- Messages
- 5,197
At the moment Rainford-Kirkby (Merseyside) is an RRB service while the Headbolt Lane works are carried out.
Today I saw a totally unacceptable failure to provide support to a wheelchair user.
He got on the train at Wigan Wallgate, using a joystick controlled electric wheelchair. He was unaccompanied and from what I could see had a level of disability similar to Steven Hawking (I apologise in advance if I'm offending anyone, no insults intended).
I presume he had ramp assistance getting on/off the train, but I next saw him at the RRB bus stop on the road which passes over the station.
The RRB was an ex-Stagecoach high-floor coach which had clearly seen better days and had a wheelchair lift fitted to run in the front entrance. The coach was painted blue and branded as "The Big Coach Company.
I got on, as did another passenger and his son. When it became the wheelchair users turn to board, it was first necessary to remove the safety handrail which stops anyone from falling down the steps. This has a vertical hinge, and locking device which holds it firmly to the floor. Too firmly - the driver was unable to release the locking device. Both I and the other passenger tried but also failed. Getting Northern to call a taxi was suggested, but discarded as the station was unstaffed.
After around ten minutes the driver apologised to the wheelchair user and stated he would have to wait fifteen minutes for the next bus. I didn't hear what the reply was (if any) but the wheelchair user set off down the road, with what intention I have no idea. We left, leaving him behind, after a few minutes crossing with the next RRB - which looked an identical machine, so may well have had the same problem.
So you have a disabled person offloaded from a train and abandoned at an unmanned station
An RRB which is either faulty, or has an untrained driver
No way of resolving the issue by calling a taxi.
Not Northern's finest day
PS - If the chap involved is reading this, I apologise for raising the issue without speaking to you first, but that would have been impossible and the problem is too serious to ignore
Today I saw a totally unacceptable failure to provide support to a wheelchair user.
He got on the train at Wigan Wallgate, using a joystick controlled electric wheelchair. He was unaccompanied and from what I could see had a level of disability similar to Steven Hawking (I apologise in advance if I'm offending anyone, no insults intended).
I presume he had ramp assistance getting on/off the train, but I next saw him at the RRB bus stop on the road which passes over the station.
The RRB was an ex-Stagecoach high-floor coach which had clearly seen better days and had a wheelchair lift fitted to run in the front entrance. The coach was painted blue and branded as "The Big Coach Company.
I got on, as did another passenger and his son. When it became the wheelchair users turn to board, it was first necessary to remove the safety handrail which stops anyone from falling down the steps. This has a vertical hinge, and locking device which holds it firmly to the floor. Too firmly - the driver was unable to release the locking device. Both I and the other passenger tried but also failed. Getting Northern to call a taxi was suggested, but discarded as the station was unstaffed.
After around ten minutes the driver apologised to the wheelchair user and stated he would have to wait fifteen minutes for the next bus. I didn't hear what the reply was (if any) but the wheelchair user set off down the road, with what intention I have no idea. We left, leaving him behind, after a few minutes crossing with the next RRB - which looked an identical machine, so may well have had the same problem.
So you have a disabled person offloaded from a train and abandoned at an unmanned station
An RRB which is either faulty, or has an untrained driver
No way of resolving the issue by calling a taxi.
Not Northern's finest day
PS - If the chap involved is reading this, I apologise for raising the issue without speaking to you first, but that would have been impossible and the problem is too serious to ignore