Wheelchair user's frustrating train journeys with no access (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Wheelchair user's frustrating train journeys with no disabled access at Manningtree train station

9:00am Sunday 17th February 2013 in Harwich and Manningtree News By Helen Barnett

A MOTHER of a disabled daughter has spoken of her frustrating train journeys which left them stranded for three hours due to lack of disabled access at a train station.

Eileen Tyrer, of Larksfield Crescent, Dovercourt, said she and her daughter Stephanie have waited in the snow, rain and wind at Manningtree station due to lack of access.

Stephanie, 46, who suffers with a congenital heart disease, uses an electric wheelchair and trains are the only way for her and Eileen to get to hospital appointments in the Royal Brompton Hospital in Kensington.

An underpass with steep narrow stairs is the only access between platforms for passengers leaving or joining the London to Norwich route, or transferring from the Mayflower Line. Otherwise a station worker must escort them across the tracks.

When returning from hospital one day, Greater Anglia staff said there wouldn’t be time to get the connecting train. Their options were to wait at Manningtree for an hour, or wait for a direct train to Harwich, which was three hours later.

Greater Anglia is appealing for Government funding to improve the station and Tendring Council decided last month to lobby for access at all stations in the district.