A number of railway stations across the rail network managed by West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway get waiting spaces and signage installed on the platforms.
They now join over 20 other stations managed by the operator that already have the tools on the platforms with one of the most recent station’s being University in the Edgbaston part of Birmingham.
The latest stations to see the introduction of the tools are: Marston Green, University, Longbridge, Redditch, Barnt Green (Platform 1 only), Five Ways (Platform 1 only), Canley (Platform 1 only), Lea Hall, Stechford, Stone (Platform 1 only), Berkhamsted (Platform’s 3 & 4 only), Hemel Hempsted (Platform’s 3 & 4 only), Droitwich Spa, Lichfield Trent Valley, Jewellery Quater (Platform 1 only) and Hartford.
Blue and white boxes that feature a white wheelchair logo and the words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here” along with signage that mirrors the messaging positioned near to where the spaces are located on the platforms or directly behind them.
When I first met with officials from the now publicly funded operator at Witton Station which is on the Birmingham to Walsall railway line in November 2023 I only thought that they would agree to install the tools at the stations surrounding Villa Park and not 36 just over 2 years later.
This means that our (the disabled) community from the across the region can now travel with both ease and confidence, not having to worry about running into any issues along the way thanks in large part to the tools on the platforms at there local stations.
I am proud to have played such a small part in this movement and really hope that those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids can make the most of the new tools and of course will remember these words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here”.
If you travel by rail on a regular basis and require some assistance to either board or disembark services, your assisted travel can be booked up to 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
Using the Passenger Assist App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/passenger-assistance/id1542190496
However you do have a legal right to turn up at a railway station and travel without booking any assistance prior to travel.
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Once again I would like to thank the accessibility team from West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway who have gone above and beyond in recent weeks, months and years to ensure that those who require assistance to board or disembark trains at stations can do so with ease and confidence on there network.
The hard work and dedication that you have put into this project to make it the success that it is today has not gone unnoticed and is very much appreciated as always.
A thank you must also go to each and everyone of you, my regular loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest posts as soon as they have been published, as always it does not go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.
Cam
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