Proud is one of several words that I can use to describe how I feel about the part I’ve played in the accessibility legacy of the West Midlands Trains franchise.
It was announced this morning (29th of July, 2025) by the Department for Transport (DFT) that from February the 1st, 2026 the operator will be taken into public ownership.
As a frequent rail passenger who lives with a number of disabilities I was fed up of the experience that I and others were receiving at Witton Lane station near Birmingham when travelling either home or back into the city centre of Birmingham after watching our beloved Aston Villa play at Villa Park.
On November the 28th, 2023 I travelled to Witton Lane station with the operators Customer Experience Director, Johnny Wiseman and officials from there stations and accessibility teams.
I was able to show the operator why change to our experience was needed after matches whilst waiting for trains at the station, so I suggested that they trialled accessible waiting spaces and other types of accessibility signage on the platforms at the station.
The purpose of both the spaces and signage which come in the form of blue and white boxes and feature a white wheelchair logo and the words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here” is to give our community somewhere that ensures we can be seen by train crew and our fellow passengers on the platforms.
Much to my surprise the spaces were a total success at that the stations in the region where they were trialled which led to them being rolled at the following stations that WMT manage:
- Worcester Shrub Hill
- Worcester Foregate Street
- Coventry Arena
- Aston
- Kenilworth
- The Hawthorns
- Selly Oak
- Lye
- Telford Central
ITV News Central featured the work by the operator on there programme in March this year (2025) to highlight which stations have the spaces and what they are designed to do.
The message remains the same that it always has for those using any of the stations with the signage and spaces and is this, please be mindful of where you stand on the platforms at the stations as those needing assistance to board services will need access to the spaces at all times.
Your efforts in supporting this work by understanding and respecting the boxes when on the platforms has not gone unnoticed and I hope it continues once the operator is under public ownership.
If you travel by rail on a regular basis and require assistance to board or disembark services, your assisted travel can be booked up 2 hours before departure in 1 of 3 ways.
By Phone: 0800 024 8998 or by using Next Generation Text – 18001 0800 024 8998.
Online: https://booking.passengerassistance.com.
By using the App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/passenger-assistance/id1542190496.
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The team at West Midlands Trains have gone both above and beyond in the last few years to ensure that the network they manage is fully accessible to all, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done, it has not gone unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
I have loved every single minute of working with you on this project as it has ensured that all rail passengers can travel on the network in the Midlands with confidence and ease if they have disabilities or mobility issues.
Legends is the one word to describe what you all are!!!!!!!!!!!
A thank you must also go to each and everyone of you, my loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest post, it doesn’t go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
Cam
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