Trains and the Disabled.

[neptune]

Since I have been retired, I sometimes go to Sleaford on the train, and take my pushbike with me. The station has three platforms. The western one is a normal platform, while the other two form an "island". The eastern platform of the island faces some tracks that I believe are seldom or never used. Arriving from Boston, one alights on the island.

That means that to exit the station, one has to cross the two main lines. An overbridge is provided, an ornate victorian one that is covered in from the rain. Access and exit from the bridge is via steps. The first time I did this journey, I carried my bike up and down the steps. I am fit for my age, but it was surprisingly difficult. The station is seldom staffed.

The next time I visited Sleaford, I walked to the south end of the platform, where a long ramp descends to track level. There is a sort of level crossing, built from sleepers, so I was able to cross the tracks, and turning back on myself, access the western platform, and get to the station exit.

This is probably illegal, as signs are displayed warning you not to trespass on the railway, on pain of a £1000 fine. Since my first use of this crossing, gates have been erected across the platform ramps to bar access, although these gates are never locked. The "level crossing" is not level enough for a wheelchair user, and the steps would be impossible. There is no staff to help. I am amazed that in this day and age, disabled people are effectively barred from using the railway.

 

[john h]

Neptune, some of the train stations up in the north of scotland you cant get off the train because of the platform is so low down old victorian style stations ( a bit like jumping off the back of a truck, dunkeld springs to mind) any one carrying any thing has a problem if there are no staff on. They put out a wooden stepp at the doors when staff there, any one with a bike pram or a wheel chair have no chance,

 

[flecc]

I've seen a number of complaints from the disabled about this very thing. It seems cost as well as the logistics comes into the issue, a provision to cover the entire network being prohibitively expensive.

The London Underground is proportionally doing much better than Network Rail, but of course it's easier in busier places with high fare incomes.
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[Woosh]

This is a serious problem for anyone affected.
A portable extending ramp springs to mind for the station staff to wheel out when necessary. But engineering, logistics (weight and gradient) and cost probably prohibitive.
Dragons' Den anyone?.
Hatti

 

[flecc]

A rail on the side of the footbridge could carry a Stannah Stairlift style enclosed platform for a wheelchair, carrying it across the lines under the wheelchair users button control at each end.

That would be the cheapest solution, and the design could be fitted to any railway station footbridge. At unmanned stations an emergency mobile communications link would have to be on the wheelchair carrying platform in case of breakdown.
.

 

[neptune]

Railway travel is expensive compared to driving on many journeys. The actual cost can be reduced in some cases by buying tickets online, but the whole fare structure is sos complex, that often, even railway employees do not fully understand it. I read somewhere that our fares are the dearest in Europe.

In spite of this, the railways seem to employ less people as time goes by. I think that one improvement would be to fit folding ramps to carriage doorways. There are a lot fewer doorway than platforms. If a "drawbridge" type ramp was used, it would be impossible to accidentally leave the ramp deployed after shutting the door. Many doors are now power operated, and the ramp could be power operated by the same system.

This would not however help disabled people to cross tracks.

 

[flecc]

I read somewhere that our fares are the dearest in Europe.

A legacy of decline. As our industries collapsed and export incomes disappeared, something had to give. We chose that to be public investment.

In the decades of this happening, Germany, France, Italy and others were pouring huge investment sums into public infrastructure when it cost far less to do so. That left them with superb modern road and rail networks which can be run now with minimal subsidy.

We are trying to catch up now when it is far more expensive, so we are suffering in every dimension, high fares, poor services and inadequate facilities. Money we could have spent in the past on building better roads is now used to fill the potholes of our neglect. The same happens on our railways to patch up their shortcomings.
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[jhruk]

Railway travel is expensive compared to driving on many journeys. The actual cost can be reduced in some cases by buying tickets online, but the whole fare structure is sos complex, that often, even railway employees do not fully understand it. I read somewhere that our fares are the dearest in Europe.

I usually find rail travel cheaper than driving if I'm on my own, although you have to know your way round the fares system and be prepared to travel at times when it might not be most convenient.

You're dead right about the over complexity of the fare structure though, I don't think anyone understands it completely.

If you're interested in finding cheaper journeys this forum can be helpful:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=105

Some of the members on here seem to know more about fares than most rail employees I've come across.

 

[john h]

I found a bit more about Dunkeld station, they have tried to close it for some years, but cant it seems that the land owner let them build a rail line through his land only if they put in a station at dunkeld , so they cant close it but they wont up grade it, cost to much?

must be the same further up north ,

 

[neptune]

John, I think we might be better off if there were more landowners like that. Our railways in Lincolnshire were decimated by Beeching`s Axe.I was never interested in Railways as a young man, I was more into motorcycles cars and lorries. Now I no longer drive, I have a different outlook on transport generally.

You can now take your bike on a train in Lincolnshire, but I think it is only "lip service" as there is only provision for two bikes per train officially. Sometimes more are carried, by people rushing aboard before the guard realises. They are not going to stop the train once it is moving.

It would be nice if the Bus Pass scheme for OAP s was extended to include rail travel. I am sure that it would encourage older people to drive less, which might be a good thing,[or not depending on your point of view.]

There might even be a case for making rail travel free or very cheap for all, as a train can do up to 400miles per gallon per passenger, if it is loaded to capacity. It is probably too late, as Beeching destroyed the infrastucture for rural areas.

One thing I would love to see is American style bike racks on busses.

PS, found some interesting pictures of Dunkeld station on Google Images. The low platforms are clearly visible.

 

[OldBob1]

Our existing Country wide rail service is not fit for purpose, more so for the disabled, Old aged or firmed.
But we can seem to fined money to the tune of 70+ million on a high speed system to save 30 minutes from London to Birmingham!
Where did we go wrong?

 

[Croxden]

It is presumed that we will shortly be running out of oil based fuel so most things will have to use the electrically driven rail network. So why not think further into the future and build a super canal system. Goods, passengers and privately owned vehicles can move much cheaper on water. Overnight deliveries will be scuppered though.

 

[flecc]

Our existing Country wide rail service is not fit for purpose, more so for the disabled, Old aged or firmed.
But we can seem to fined money to the tune of 70+ million on a high speed system to save 30 minutes from London to Birmingham!
Where did we go wrong?

Where I posted above on this link. We are now adding the top end to make it look like we are as up to date as our European partners. It's a bit like adding alloy wheels, fog lamps, expensive stereo and go-faster stripes to an old banger. Nobody is fooled.
.

 

[john h]

neptune. scotrail have an over 55 club it lets you roll all over scotland for £19. I think the card is free on proof of age, i always ment to get one but never got round to it. as i had this mad notion to cycle tour scotland again, ( the mind is willing but the body is week)