BBC News – Kent disabled woman gets ticket to opposite platform
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A disabled woman has received an apology after she was told she had to go on a 45 minute return train journey to get to the opposite platform.
Wheelchair user Julie Cleary, 53, of Staplehurst, Kent, could not reach the correct platform at the town’s station because the lift was unmanned.
She was told to get a return ticket to Ashford so she could reach the other side of the tracks.
Southeastern Railway said the lift can now be used unmanned at any time.
Ms Cleary said she needed to reach the other platform because the only exit to the station was located on that side.
‘How frustrating’
She said: “I was astonished. Angry, at the fact that they’d spent all that money making this station accessible and it wasn’t.”
“We assumed you could remotely access it [the lift] by calling the help point, but apparently you had to pre-book it and my only option was to get a train to Ashford, cross the tracks and come back to access the other platform.”
The lift had been installed as part of Network Rail’s Access to All programme, which saw £370m spent on delivering accessible routes throughout stations across the country.
Jon Hay-Campbell, of Southeastern Railway, said the company had apologised to Ms Cleary.
He said equipment had now been installed which meant the lifts could be used day and night without assistance.
He added: “We appreciate how frustrating this is for all the passengers.”
Same Difference 
I hope you got more than an apology? Free travel for a year?
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