North East

 

End of the Line - Evidence

 Image of Oxenholme the Lake District Train Station

 

 

 

 

 

Stats in the area

In half of all journeys made in the North East the Trailblazers found some problem with the accessible facilities at the station, on the vehicle or with staff members' lack of disability awareness training.

Personal evidence

Dave Gale - Carlisle

The attitude of the drivers is a big problem for me. On one occasion the driver didn't give me a chance to get out my seat so I missed my stop.

Another problem is drivers not always deflating the tyre so I can manage to step onto the bus.

On another occasion I was using crutches and people just pushed past me to get off the bus and I inevitably stumbled over.

Jennifer Gallacher - Middlesbrough

Taxis

My preferred mode of transport is a taxi. I can use a taxi independently for a journey so I don't have to have a carer or someone else with me in the vehicle.

I am able to undertake short journeys on my own and meet up with a carer at the destination. I know the taxis I get will be safe and it will arrive on time when I book it. The drivers in Middlesbrough are helpful and provide a good service for wheelchair users. 

I couldn't have such a good social life without the taxi service I use. Also I use the same taxi to get to and from work every day.

Buses

My least favoured modes of public transport are buses. I can not use a bus independently. I like to do as much as I can on my own and buses don't let me do this. I need someone with me whenever I want to travel by bus.

The nearest bus stop to my house is a five minute walk away. If the weather is cold and wet, I am soaked or frozen before I begin my journey. Needless to say I don't often get buses because of this reason.

Also wheelchair accessible buses do not run on every route everyday making the idea of hopping on a bus as a quick way of going on a journey unrealistic for a wheelchair user. Much planning is involved. I prefer to have the least amount of hassle when going on a journey and going on a bus for me is full of hassle and is stressful!

 Trains

Although it doesn't cost us extra, we obviously have to buy two tickets because we have a carer. We do have a Disabled Person's Railcard but it would be much fairer for carers to get a free seat, especially as the person who uses a wheelchair provides their own seat.

Read the full End of the Line report.