One of the biggest rail operators in the Midlands has helped supporters of three football clubs in the regions who identify as having disabilities or mobility issues to feel equal with there able-bodied counterparts when travelling to and from matches by rail.
West Midlands Railway who are now publicly funded started off by installing accessibility signage at the railway stations they manage near to Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa football club at the beginning of the 2024.
Just months later the operator followed that up by installing the same accessibility signage at the railway stations near to the stadium of Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion.
The signage which comes in the form of blue and white boxes which features a white wheelchair logo along with the words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here, there are also signs mirroring the same messaging that are either positioned directly behind where the spaces are located on the platforms or near to them.
Supporters who require assistance to board trains home after matches or events at Villa Park, The CBS Arena or The Hawthorns can head to one of the dedicated spaces on the platforms.
My message to the supporters of Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City who use the rail network when attending the home matches of there respective teams is this, “this march during Level Playing Field’s ” Unite for Access” campaign we have a real opportunity to unite as a fanbases and show all supporters that we support our team without showing prejudice towards others”
” Your support in ensuring that the disabled supporters of your club who choose to use the rail network on match days has been nothing short of incredible since the introduction of the accessibility tools at the local railway stations to the stadiums”.
” Please continue showing this level of support to your fellow supporters with disabilities or mobility issues who use the rail network when travelling home or back into the local city centre after matches”.
As I have mentioned in previous posts on this subject, ” if you see a fellow supporter being assisted onto a train do the right thing and move down to the next available door of the train you are trying to board ” don’t just climb over them and head up the ramp that has been secured to the train by staff allowing them to safely board”.
Thank you to the incredible team at West Midlands Railway who have ensured that our (the disabled) community are able to travel around the region from stations they are responsible for with ease and confidence, your hard work and dedication to this project has not gone unnoticed and is as always very much appreciated.
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 posts, again as always it does not go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
Cam
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