A blind man fell onto train tracks after travelling from Glasgow to Manchester.
Abudl Eneser says he was just moments away from being hit by a high speed train freight train when he fell from platfrom 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station.
Speaking of his ordeal, Abdul described the incident as "'the most traumatic experience I have ever had to face as a visually impaired person", reports the Manchester Evening News.
The 20 year-old is now taking legal action after insisting there was no tactile pavement - which warns visibly impaired travellers of approaching hazards. He also claims he was 'failed' by Passenger Assist arrangement, who provide assistance for disabled people navigating stations during train journeys.
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At the time, Abdul was travelling from Glasgow to Manchester via Preston. He had booked Passenger Assist in advance and was helped to board his train at Glasgow, however due to delays, he missed his connecting train to Manchester from Preston and was forced to wait 90 minutes for the next Northern train.
He was told by staff at Preston that they would let their colleagues at Piccadilly know when he was on the train and his seat number. However, when he arrived at the station, he claims he was 'left to his own devices' after no one from Passenger Assist came to meet him and was later told that the workers had gone home for the day.
As he tried to navigate his way to the steps from platform 14 to the main Piccadilly concourse, he then fell onto the tracks.
Station staff immediately rushed over to help and he was taken to A&E. After being looked over by medics, he was eventually sent home to ice the wounds on his knees.
Law firm Leigh Day, who are representing Mr Eneser, said he's suing Network Rail and two train operating companies, as the Preston train was operated by Avanti and his Manchester train was run by Northern. He is also using his case to call for urgent action to improve provision for disabled people travelling on trains and through railway stations.
Abdul said: "I used to be a confident rail user, but the fear I experienced when I fell from the platform, and when I think about what might have happened if I hadn't managed to get back on to the platform with a minute to spare, has left me very nervous when using the railway.
"Visually impaired people should feel just as safe as sighted people when they embark on a train journey. My experience shows that Network Rail and train operating companies are failing to provide a proper service for visually impaired people.
Law firm Leigh Day said it has sent a legal letter to Network Rail, Avanti West Coast and Northern Trains to launch a legal claim, saying they have a duty under the Equality Act 2010.
Solicitor Kate Egerton said: "It is staggering that, despite the number of incidents involving blind and visually impaired people falling from platforms, tactile paving is missing from such a large proportion of stations. Network Rail and train operating companies have legal obligations to ensure that train stations are safe for all members of the public, including disabled passengers."
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "We're sorry to hear about Abdul's experience. We know there's still more to be done to make our railway more accessible for all and we're working closely with our train operator colleagues and industry partners to achieve this as quickly and efficiently as we can.
"Our programme to install tactile paving on platforms at stations across Britain by 2025 is continuing at pace, bolstered by £75 million of funding allocated by Government to accelerate it last year; this includes extensive improvement work at Manchester Piccadilly, with tactile paving installed along the lengths of platforms 13 and 14 at the start of this year. The cross-industry programme covers England, Wales and Scotland at all high-risk stations where tactile platforms are not part of existing renewal plans."
Avanti West Coast said: "We're sorry to hear about Abdul’s experience. We know that as an industry there is more that needs to be done to ensure all customers can travel with confidence and we’re working with industry partners to make the railway more accessible." A spokesman went on to say that as legal proceedings have commenced, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
The M.E.N. has contacted Northern for comment.
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