In the last few minutes for so I have written to the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons about the state of assisted travel across the railways for those with disabilities or mobility issues and the fact that words no longer matter from the government when it comes to the issue.
The letter that I have just written to Jesse Norman the Shadow Leader of the House and Member of Parliament for Hereford and South Herefordshire says that, As you are aware I am a long-time rail accessibility campaigner who recognises that more needs to be done by the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister for Rail and HS2 about the issue of assisted travel on the railways for those with disabilities or mobility issues across the entire United Kingdom.
In March last year (2025) the Department for Transport’s select committee called for an overhaul of laws, strategy and attitudes to get transport working for disabled people which is something that I 100% support and welcome.
However, I do have grave concerns that the government don’t realise that assisted travel across the railways for the disabled community is getting worse across the nation regardless of where you live.
On almost a weekly basis I hear from friends across the Midlands or on social media that members of our community have faced issues whilst using the assisted travel services on the railways.
It appears from what I have seen that New Street railway station in Birmingham is unfortunately at the heart of the problem, but I don’t think that this is the case and there has to be other members of parliament who’s disabled constituents have faced countless issues whilst traveling by rail across nation.
Quite frankly I am fed up of asking Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE the same questions repeatedly about assisted travel on the railways, now is the time for change in this field and not in the next 5 or 10 years when it suits.
It is important for me to note at this stage that the accessibility team from West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway have been phenomenal in raising my concerns with the team at New Street station in recent months.
Here is where you come in as Shadow Leader of the House, now is the time for me to stop raising the same issues repeatedly with the team at the Department for Transport, the full scale of this issue across our beautiful nation needs to be revealed as soon as possible.
I am, aware that there was a debate in parliament earlier this year which looked at a motion on transport accessibility for disabled people , in my view this is not good enough and will not solve the issue of the failures with assisted travel quickly, today I am asking you to challenge Sir Alistair Campbell from the dispatch box on what is being done by the government to improve assisted travel on the railways for our community before it is allowed to get any worse.
Heidi Alexander MP needs to come to the House urgently and explain why we as a community of disabled people are allowed to be treated like second class citizens when using the railways to keep some independence.
Words are no longer good enough around this issue we need action now otherwise members of our community are going to have to decide if we can travel by rail or not, finally as you will know I wrote to Lord Hendy on July the 20th about this very issue and recalled the following experiences:
A) On Tuesday 14 July 2026, while waiting in the Assisted Travel Lounge (ALT) at Birmingham New Street for my afternoon train home, I overheard members of staff discussing passenger complaints. During this conversation, one staff member stated, and I quote, “Passengers are fucking arseholes.” I was genuinely shocked to hear such offensive and disrespectful language being used about the very people they are employed to support, particularly in a service designed for disabled passengers.
B) On another journey, as my train approached Ledbury, I received a text message from the staff at Hereford asking whether I was on board the train because my booked assistance had been cancelled on the Passenger Assist app. This raised serious concerns about why New Street station had cancelled my assistance which could have easily resulted in me being left without assistance on arrival home.
C) After arriving at Birmingham New Street recently on an 08:36 service from Hereford, I was assisted off the train and instructed to make my way to the Assisted Travel Lounge, where another member of staff would escort me to my connecting train to Wolverhampton.
D) While I waited, staff repeatedly radioed the employee who was supposed to assist me, but there was no response. Concerned that I would miss my connection, I made my own way to the train and asked the West Midlands Railway conductor for assistance. The conductor helped me onto the train without hesitation. Ironically, the Birmingham New Street passenger assistance staff member only arrived on the platform as I was already boarding.
E) Most recently, after travelling to Birmingham New Street on a West Midlands Railway train, the passenger assistance staff failed to secure the boarding ramp using the required bridging plate before I disembarked. As I wheeled onto the ramp, it moved beneath me, creating a significant safety risk. Regrettably, this is not the first time I have experienced this issue at Birmingham New Street.
F) On arrival at the station the ticket office was closed so I waited on the platform for the train to arrive next to the dedicated meeting point sign. When the train arrived, I headed to the accessible carriage at the front of the train that was heading in the direction of Edinburgh. However, the senior conductor didn’t turn up at the train and only did so when he stepped onto the platform and realised that I was waiting to board.
As he approached the carriage and where I was sat, he said that I should’ve headed to the back of the train and got him, he also referred to the fact that he hadn’t checked the passenger assistance app despite me having booked assistance. I thought there was no need to because I was waiting by the sign on the platform that I would be able to get assistance from, which clearly was not the case.
This would not be acceptable if it was faced by our able-bodied peers so when is this acceptable for our community to face as it is not my fault that I require some assistance to board trains and travel around the nation safety.
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It is only right that I take the opportunity to thank the Shadow Leader of the House and is his team for taking the time out of there busy schedules to read my letter and consider it’s contents.
Your support does not go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated and always will be.
Finally, thank you 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, it doesn’t go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated.
Cam.
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