Memorandum by Derby Access Group (DAF
12)
DISABLED PEOPLE'S
ACCESS TO
TRANSPORT
In response to your Press Notice, we would like
to submit the following summary of issues with Derby Railway station,
Midland Mainline and Network Rail.
We feel that both Midland Mainline and Network
Rail are not taking the DDA seriously and are trying to hide behind
the lack of funding. We hope that the committee can help to ensure
that disabled people do have proper access to transport.
NEW FOOTBRIDGE
AT DERBY
RAILWAY STATION—BUT
WHERE ARE
THE LIFTS?
At Derby railway station, a major interchange
for the rail network, disabled people have always been expected
to use a subway to enable them to get from platform to platform.
This subway was built by the Royal Mail for their electric vehicles
(although the subway is no longer used for this purpose since
mail is no longer transported by rail). The ramps of this subway
are too steep for safe use by pedestrians and Midland Mainline
freely admit that they are not DDA compliant, and that there is
no way that they can be made compliant. As Midland Mainline provide
Bradshaw Buggies for ambulant disabled people access to this subway
is restricted—users must be accompanied by a member of staff.
This winter Network Rail are funding and installing
a new footbridge at the station as the old one is in need of replacement.
However, the new footbridge will not include lifts to the platforms.
(There are already two lifts, one into the concourse and another
into the car park and industrial estate at the back of the station).
Network rail claim that this is not a new structure, it is merely
a part replacement, and that as such there is no need for it to
be made DDA compliant.
Before work on the existing footbridge could
begin the subway had to be brought up to a basic standard, new
lighting was installed, pumping equipment to prevent flooding
was installed and it was painted. Whilst the subway is open for
public use, and is the only means of access to the platforms,
the Bradshaw Buggy service has been discontinued for health and
safety reasons. A number of attendant controlled electric wheelchairs
have been made available, and there are supposedly staff available
who are trained to use these. In icy weather we have serious doubts
about the safety of the ramps to the subway for ANY person, regardless
of whether or not they are disabled. The surface of the ramps
is often hazardous even in damp weather, in icy weather they are
extremely slippery and this coupled with the steep slope makes
them a potential hazard to all users!
Network Rail and Midland Mainline, the franchisee,
claim funding is a problem. We are not sure whether the Strategic
Rail Authority have formally been approached. Several costs have
been referred to ranging from £250k to £858k. There
seems to be some disagreement about who should fund the cost of
installing lifts, with Network Rail claiming that Midland Mainline
should meet the cost, whilst Midland Mainline maintain that Network
Rail (as the owner of the station) should meet the cost.
When the new footbridge is opened in March disabled
people will still have to use the subway accompanied by at least
one member of staff. Where a heavy person needs to use the underpass
in their own wheelchair, we are given to understand that two members
of staff will be needed to comply with health and safety. We are
given to understand that at this time the Bradshaw Buggy service
will be re-instated.
Marta Hancock
Secretary
November 2004
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