JustBeingCP

Guidance for rail operators who manage the countries rail network will put disabled rail passengers first as we try to keep a level of independence in our lives. When labour came into office on Friday July the 5th 2024 they promised to put passengers first across our public transport networks.

As you, my readers and followers will be aware I wrote to Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE , the Minister for Rail and chairman of Network Rail on Friday the 5th of July calling on him to put disabled rail passengers first.

I would like the Department of Transport to introduce guidance for all rail operators around installing accessibility signage at unstaffed stations on there network that has high volumes of passenger assistance requests.

The Department for Transport (DFT) has 5 key priorities with one of which being centred around “improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform”, what does this actually mean in my opinion:

1. Putting passengers first by listening to us at every level.
2. Putting a stop to afternoons of delays and cancellations on the network.
3. Taking the railways back into public ownership

The introduction of much needed “Accessibility Signage” at all unstaffed stations that see the highest volume of passenger assistance requests will go along way to ensuring that our community experience smooth journey’s when using the rail network to move around independently.

It has already proven to be a massive success at Aston and Witton Lane station’s in Birmingham, passengers have already been seen using the signage on a regularly basis since its instillation earlier this year.

I have a simple and clear message for both the Department for Transport and Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, which is this, I would love to see West Midlands Trains (WMT) and the work that they have done in this area used as a case study of good practice for the other fifteen rail operators when they look at this issue.

It is completely unacceptable that members of the disabled community are being forgotten about whilst on trains once at there destination or they aren’t seen by fellow passengers, train crew or event station staff after attending an event because the station is incredibly busy.

Please can I ask that you look at how the department can work with rail operators to improve this because we have to remember that “improving performance on the railways” is not just about ensuring that services aren’t cancelled or delayed it is also about how all passengers are treated on the network.

There needs to be accessibility signage at all train stations that are classed as an event venue station , the West Midlands is home to 7 stations that are classed as these and they are:

1. Aston – Aston Villa FC
2. Bescot Stadium – Walsall FC
3. Bordesley – Birmingham City FC
4. Coventry Arena – Coventry City FC
5. The Hawthorns – West Bromwich Albion
6. Witton Lane – Aston Villa FC
7. Wolverhampton Station – Wolverhampton Wanders FC

A couple of these stations have already had the signage installed at them which I have put in bold text above.!

Two more of the event venue stations in the Midlands are due to have the “Accessibility Signage” installed by West Midlands Trains (WMT) in the future and they are:

1. Coventry Arena – Coventry City FC
2. The Hawthorns – West Bromwich Albion

I would like to once again remind the supporters of both West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City to, please be mindful of where you stand on the platforms as your fellow supporters with mobility issues will require access to the signage at all times ahead of installation of the signage in the future at both stations.

Disabled supporters requiring access to the waiting areas on each of the platforms at Witton Lane station near Birmingham experienced issues with fellow supporters standing inside the boxes meaning that we couldn’t access them whilst waiting for our trains to arrive at the station.

I don’t want this to be experienced by any disabled supporters of West Bromwich Albion or Coventry City so supporters need to work with your fellow supporters who require assistance to board or disembark services on match-days once the signage is in place to make sure that this doesn’t happen.

Accessibility Signage is also planned for the following unstaffed stations across the Midlands: (These were seen as stations with high volumes of passenger assistance requests)

1. Northampton
2. University
3. Kenilworth
4. Telford

If you are someone who uses a wheelchair, mobility scooter or other mobility aid and travels by rail, remember there are number of ways that you can book your assisted travel:

By Phone: 0800 024 8998 or by using Next Generation Text – 18001 0800 024 8998

Online: https://booking.passengerassistance.com.

App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/passenger-assistance/id1542190496.

The key message that I would like to end this piece on is the following: Accessibility Signage at unstaffed train stations needs to be a integral part of the “improving performance on the railways” messaging from the DFT (Department for Transport)

As a community we want to travel by rail with ease today and that means , signage is needed now not in 5 or 10 years time.

Can Labour deliver on something that the Tories failed on, only time will tell!!!!

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I would like to end by thanking the incredible team at West Midlands Trains who have both listened and worked with me during the last 9 months to make my accessibility signage dream a reality across our beautiful region, you are all incredible individuals.

I am excited to continue the journey that we are on in the coming months in the hope that we can make the rail network across the Midlands accessible to all, even if those with mobility issues and other disabilities are travelling from unstaffed stations.

A massive thank you must also go to you, my readers and followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my posts as soon as they are published every week, it doesn’t go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.

Cam