The train just couldn't take the strain

EVER had that feeling that, no matter how hard you try, something is just not going to work out? That's the feeling I got when I started to investigate the possibility of taking a battery-operated scooter by train to Redcar for a stroll along the prom.

This venture was in response to reader Ken Vasey's letter in which he bemoans the fact that such a notion seems impossible. Ken concludes that "Arriva trains do not cater for electric wheelchairs..." after his research had revealed there is "nowhere for a wheelchair to park on the train -provided you can find a train which has a ramp to allow you to enter."

Fully understanding his frustration, but determined not to be beaten, I set about discovering more about provision for travellers with disabilities on this route. After all, fresh in my memory, was a notable success regarding taking my wheelchair by train.

Last summer, while on holiday in Holland, I travelled with my family by train from the suburbs of The Hague to Amsterdam. All we had for support was a Dutch phrasebook which was not exactly replete with everyday questions about disability and access. The trains, however, were on time; I was able to gain access to stations, including operating lifts to platforms myself; buy tickets; gain level entry to the carriages and use the wheelchair parking bays on board.

Secondly, I remember too, a mere ten years ago, being able to take a group of children to Saltburn from Middlesbrough by train. I was the teacher, leading a party from a special school in the town where many of the children had limited mobility. The visit was made possible because, unlike today, one could contact the stationmaster directly. On this occasion, he arranged to meet us and took us on a station tour before, finally, escorting us to our train.

I began this latest excursion diving into Yellow Pages to see if I could locate the most appropriate contact number. It was like drowning in a sea of custard. I floundered from "Disability - Info and Services" via "Travel Agents" to "Train Stations and Info". Deciding to start locally, I began by contacting a Stockton travel agent whose name suggested they may have had links with the train operator Arriva.

"I'm sorry, we don't give advice on train travel," was the response. The National Helpline number was offered so this became the next stop down the enquiry track. From here, I was, again, referred on to a number - this time one which was dedicated to disabled travellers. Here I spoke to Neil who commendably did his best to help, but gave me disappointing news about Redcar station:

"Staff are unable to assist at Redcar Central as this station is a private operation." He was happy, though, to look at alternatives such as Redcar East and to trumpet the glorious news that "Thornaby is no problem since that is manned now". But, ultimately, he could offer no more than this nugget: "What I'll do is ring through to the train crew and see if there's a ramp on board." (It was starting to sound like the situation in the Donegan household on a morning when we know where the kids shoes are supposed to be but can never guarantee being able to find them.)

Neil fulfilled his promise and rang back to say: "Sorry, they don't allocate the units until 6am at Heaton so could you ring me on the morning of your planned trip and I will contact them to see if there is a ramp on this particular unit?" Sadly, in his frantic and genuine efforts to be helpful, he was paradoxically exposing the frailties and huge chasms in the service.

Feeling less keen on the idea of a train trip to Redcar, I tried one final tack. What if a scooter was available for hire on arrival thus getting rid of the need to take one with me? This proposition was put to Tourist Information, Redcar, who did have a chair to hire for £4 a day (£20 deposit) but, unfortunately, this would be a manual one. Not only that, but there was no way of getting the chair to the station. So for rail travellers without an escort, this service is useless.

Cleveland Disability Forum could not come up with any contacts in Redcar who could offer such a service since the nearest Shopmobility is in Middlesbrough.

So, as I feared, I had to agree with Mr Vasey and concede defeat. Seems like this form of "public" transport is biased heavily in favour of the ambulant. We simply do not have a local rail service with the level of commitment we require.

Published: 04/02/2003