JustBeingCP

Witton railway station is situated a 5 to 10 minute walk or wheel away from Villa Park and is ready to welcome the supporters of Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Rugby for the Slater Cup.

In February 2023 I wrote to the now publicly funded rail operator, West Midlands Railway about what I as a wheelchair user and others who travel to Villa Park by rail experience at the station when it is time to head home, back into Birmingham or Walsall.

November the 28th 2023 was the day that I travelled to Witton station with officials from the operator who included the Customer Experience Director, at this meeting I was able to wheel them though my experience at the station.

Following the so called wheel through a discussion started around how the operator could improve the experience offered to me and other passengers requiring some assistance to board or disembark trains at the station and others in the Midlands and beyond.

I had a moment of inspiration at this point of the meeting and suggested that they (the operator) consider trialling waiting spaces and other types of signage on the platforms at Witton, it was safe to say they liked the idea and began working out how to implement it across the network they manage.

Since January 2024 there have been blue and white boxes which feature a wheelchair logo and the words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here ” along with signage mirroring the same messaging positioned near to where the spaces are located on the platforms or above them.

Train crew, event station staff and other passengers should be able to see the signage from either end of the platforms even when there are a number of passengers on them.

Once supporters arrive back at the station after the match later which kicks off at 13:00 they should head to one the dedicated waiting spaces to wait for there train to arrive if requiring assistance.

Passengers who would like to can book there assisted travel ahead of time, up to 2 hours before departure and this can be done in various different ways:

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

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

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

However you do have a legal right to just turn up at a railway station and travel without booking any assistance prior to departure.

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I wish all those attending the match later a safe, successful and enjoyable afternoon and thank them for taking the time to read this post about the accessibility provision that is on offer to supporters at the railway stations surrounding Villa Park.

A thank you must go to each and everyone of you, my regular loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time of your busy schedules to read my latest posts as soon as they have been published, it does not go unnoticed and is as always much much appreciated.

Cam