A Scots wheelchair user says they were 'astonished' at the poor accessibility at the refurbished Glasgow Queen Street Station.
Speaking to Glasgow Live, Linda Bamford, claims the ramp at the new station has not been built with wheelchair users in mind. She even pondered whether the wheelchair ramp had been designed for 'wheeled luggage.'
Queen Street's online accessibility page states there is a ramp for access and the station is wheelchair friendly, but Linda disagrees and says it has 'no flat rest sections' to break the incline.
She said: "My personal opinion and from trying to use this ramp as a wheelie to access the station is that it was certainly not built or designed for that purpose. I wonder if the design was for people walking with wheeled luggage or to assist with emergency evacuation?
"But it certainly isn’t a ramp that works for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility. There are no flat rest sections to break up the gradient and length or rest sections with seating and the ramp is pretty long and steep.
"From trying unsuccessfully to use this ramp as a wheelie to access the station, it is certainly not designed to give access to all. I couldn’t use the ramp as a self propelling wheelie so it took away my independence and choices.
"Yet another infrastructure barrier - but this one has been recently built in."
Linda added: "I was disappointed when I turned up at the newly refurbished Queen Street Station to be faced with this ramp. Disappointed and astonished that anyone could think this ramp provided access for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.
"I assume the design didn’t include taking on board the views, needs and lived experiences of disabled people. The gradient is too steep, ramp too long with no level resting areas or seats for people needing a rest during the long incline or decline.
"The surface also appears slippy, which as a wheelie can cause wheel spin when wet."
MSP Paul Sweeney believes Linda's experience within Glasgow Queen Street is of 'great concern'.
He added: “As someone who uses Queen Street Station on a weekly basis, it is evident that the ramp was not designed with wheelchair users in mind, but instead is aimed at those with luggage allowing them to avoid using the stairs directly adjacent to the ramp. That is not good enough and is something I will take up with Network Rail as a matter of urgency.
“While this may be the experience of one individual with accessibility issues, they will not be alone. Scotland’s railways should be for the benefit of every one of us, and a cursory glance at the list of stations on the network that are not designed with wheelchair users or others with accessibility issues in mind is staggering.
"We need a railway that is fit for the 21st century, a network that is fully accessible, and a service that is capable of meeting demand. Currently, we have none of those."
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are committed to making our railway as accessible as we can for all of our customers. The new £120m Queen Street station has step-free street-level access at two of its entrances.
"There are also lifts for customers on Queen Street, in addition to the ramp, and we have tried to provide as many access options as possible for visitors.”
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