End of the Line - Evidence

Stats in the area

In one in three journeys made in the Midlands 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

 Jagdeep Kaur Sehmbi - Birmingham

 Buses

Once the driver didn't drive up to the pavement, not because he couldn't, but because it was easier for him to drive off after the other passengers had got on, so I had to get off in the road, which meant the ramp was very steep and then I had to find a place to get up onto the pavement.  

Drivers are sometimes not very helpful. They seem a bit annoyed at having to get up to open the ramp.

I think that drivers should always drive up to pavements when they know a disabled person is on the bus.

Trains

A couple of times there has been no one with the ramp to help me off the train at my destination platform, even though I had informed them at the other station and been assured that someone would have the ramps ready.

Sometimes, if there are lots of people getting on the train via the disabled entrance, the person with the ramp will set up the ramp at a different carriage entrance where there are no disabled spaces so I have to sit by the doors in the way of everyone getting on and off the train.

There should be better communication between train station staff.

Read the full End of the Line report.