My experiences on the trains have been a bit more interesting and adventurous. Now as a disabled train passenger, if I wasn’t bothered about what time train I wanted to catch, I could just turn up at the station and buy a ticket for the next train to my destination. Overall this is what I normally do and tend to get the train I want, but there have been times when I’ve not been able to do this, because people have already booked for assistance on that train, so then I’ve had to wait for the next one.
On one hand this is great it means more disabled people are using the trains and being active citizens. On the other hand the system highlights the fact the trains are really built for abled bodied people and that disabled passengers are just catered for.
In order for me to get on a train a member of platform staff have to carry a heavy metal ramp down to the carriage where I need to get on. When the doors of the carriage open the ramp is put down, I then drive up on to the train. Wheelchair users are really only allowed in carriages that have a wheelchair sign on the door, this is so when I get to my destination the platform staff know where I am, and can put the ramp down so I can disembark and be on my merry way. In order for this system to work it means that staff at my departing station, have to call staff at the other station to let them know I’m on my way a bit like royalty.
Depending on a whole host of circumstances this system can break down spectacularly. There have been situations where I’ve got to my destination and know one has been on the platform to get me off. Then the train moves off with me still on it, every time this happens I feel myself grown.
In every carriage on the train there is a big red emergency button, when pushed it means I can speak to the driver, I’ve had to do this on a number of occasions. Above the red button there is a sign saying please speak clearly and wait for the driver to finish speaking before you speak. Now let me tell you the sound quality on these speaker things is crap, on top of that I have a stammer so speaking clearly can be a challenge and quite entertaining, when I’m trying to explain what’s happened.
Then the driver has to phone ahead to the next station and arrange for someone to be there with a ramp. When this happens it makes my journey considerably longer and makes me less effective than I could have been and is a waste of my time.
There was one occasion when I got on a really long train with surprisingly more than one carriage for wheelchair users. This was unusual and it would also be a weakness on this particular journey.
So I get on the train with the usual process having been carried out and my destination knows I’m on my way. However on my arrival nobody was there to meet me, so when that familiar beeping sound started up just before the doors close. I rolled my eyes and thought it’s going to be one of those days. I found out later that the station had been called but the person had gone to the other door and of course found no wheelchair. I must have vanished, that was quite a funny situation.
Normally my entire journey from Banbury to Bicester can take around an hour. There have been times when that journey has taken me three to four hours.
When I come from Banbury to Bicester to get out of the station I need to go across to the other platform which involves using two lifts. Guess what happens next!!!!
There have been several occasions where one lift hasn’t worked. It reminds me of the saying “so close but yet so far”
So as all the other passengers are filing past me getting on with their day, I have to wait for another train to take me to leamington spa to get on another train, to come back on the other platform.
As a regular train user you do get to know the staff very well, and have a laugh with them. I even got invited and went to a staff member’s retirement party.
The funny thing was, that all the staff I knew really well where there and we all had a lovely meal and great night out.
Hotwheels 