I’m going to be trainspotter boring this week and walk you down the endless carriages of railway accessibility. Are you crammed in comfortably? Then I’ll begin.
Last month I went to London. It takes a lot of effort and energy to go to London. It also takes a lot of planning. I used an app to book help with my wheelchair on and off the train. I can’t just turn up and go, I need to book support in advance.
I phoned Southeastern, my local train company, to double check everything was in order. I was assured again that everything was hunkydory at my station of departure.
When I arrived at Victoria, I was left on the train. A dispatcher got a ramp, but I needed help to the main concourse. I could hear the buggy at the far end of the platform.
The noise got closer, and then it got fainter – it was moving away. Another train had come in after mine, so my help had been forgotten, someone else had been prioritised, and I remained stuck at the end of the platform. I needed to get to a meeting with strict timings. I would have twiddled my thumbs, but I was using them to try to self-propel down the platform. I failed.
