No guarantee of help for disabled passengers, says Southern

TomandJerry · Jan 17, 2017

Southern rail users with disabilities face delayed journeys or the prospect of no longer being able to board some trains after the company said there was no “cast-iron guarantee” that assistance would be available at all stations.

Southern has admitted it may have to book taxis for disabled travellers who cannot complete their journey because the only member of staff on the train is the driver.

Previously there were 33 stations across the Southern rail network where passengers in need of assistance to get on or off the train could turn up and be guaranteed help."

Thunder Bolt · Jan 17, 2017

Useless company.

The Rivet · Jan 17, 2017

Perhaps a staged incident then. A wheelchair bound person with friends helping with the ramp onto the train whilst doors open and then with the agreement of the wheelchair bound person just leaving it whilst waiting for 'official' help. Train cant move, doors wont close and point made. Maybe at several stations at the same time across the network.

lawros left foot · Jan 17, 2017

So, Premier League football clubs will be fined for not providing enough disabled seating etc, but Southern Rail will still pick up their millions for restricting disabled provision.
What a terrible state of affairs.

The Rivet · Jan 17, 2017

lawros left foot said:
So, Premier League football clubs will be fined for not providing enough disabled seating etc, but Southern Rail will still pick up their millions for restricting disabled provision.
What a terrible state of affairs.

Oh they may get fined but have a guess what they will do to recoup the cash, yep you guessed raise rail fares.

lawros left foot · Jan 17, 2017

The Rivet said:
Oh they may get fined but have a guess what they will do to recoup the cash, yep you guessed raise rail fares.

Don't the Government get the fares etc,and Southern is paid huge admin fee by the taxpayers?

Herr Tubthumper · Jan 17, 2017

Shameful and disgusting

The Rivet · Jan 17, 2017

lawros left foot said:
Don't the Government get the fares etc,and Southern is paid huge admin fee by the taxpayers?

Yes your right, my bad. So the fines would hurt them then. Note post No.3

studio150 · Jan 17, 2017

But I thought the whole point of doing away with the guards was to improve the travellers experience.

I suspect that some will say laying on a taxi does improve the Southern experience.

Madafwo · Jan 17, 2017

I really don't know what to say

deletebeepbeepbeep · Jan 17, 2017

Tory Britain

lawros left foot · Jan 17, 2017

How is Grayling going to blame the unions for this one?

Cowfold Seagull · Jan 17, 2017

lawros left foot said:
So, Premier League football clubs will be fined for not providing enough disabled seating etc, but Southern Rail will still pick up their millions for restricting disabled provision.
What a terrible state of affairs.

Indeed. I'm surprised this isn't breaking the law actually.

Bozza · Jan 17, 2017

TomandJerry said:
the company said there was no “cast-iron guarantee” that assistance would be available at all stations.

Previously there were 33 stations across the Southern rail network where passengers in need of assistance to get on or off the train could turn up and be guaranteed help."

These two lines don't marry up, do they?

bhanutz · Jan 17, 2017

Bozza said:
These two lines don't marry up, do they?

I thought that....Doesn't it say they couldn't guarantee help previously? If so, what has changed?

pastafarian · Jan 17, 2017

does this mean the system where you book up assistance in advance is still in effect?
anyone know?
and is there more to this announcement than a couple of lines?

albionite · Jan 17, 2017

The driver isn't allowed to help a disabled person on, at same time they can not move the train if that person stays between train and yellow line.

Will be interesting how they handle the delays.

TomandJerry · Jan 17, 2017

the right to guaranteed assistance has quietly disappeared. Previous train maps specified the stations where passengers needing assistance could turn up and travel. Now, the maps on the trains say that if such passengers do not book help in advance, “there might be a significant delay to your journey”.

A spokesman for GTR said: “It would be correct to say that there is no cast-iron guarantee that passengers with accessibility requirements can spontaneously board a train in the assumption there would be a second member of staff on board every train.

luppers · Jan 17, 2017

I was helped on a train at Falmer.I was on crutches at the time having broken my leg. the very kind railway gentleman assisted me on to the train by pushing me knocking me flying.Other passengers came to my assistance but he just walked away. As you can imagine I was very impressed.

Norman Baker suck my lozenge · Jan 17, 2017

Gotta love the Torys

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No guarantee of help for disabled passengers, says Southern

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