Lack of disabled toilet access on trains is discrimination

DIFFERENT year, different train operator, same appalling discrimination against disabled on our trains.

Before Christmas, British Polio Ambassador and Paralympian, Anne Wafula-Strike was forced to wet herself on a train, with no disabled toilet available. The Rail Minister, Paul Maynard, pledged that no other disabled rail user would have to endure such a distressing and humiliating experience on a train journey. Yet, I am appalled to hear that in the last few days, wheelchair user Christopher Stapleton has indeed had the same experience.

The train company are yet to comment on the situation; however Christopher had booked his train ticket six weeks ahead, so they aware they would have a wheelchair user on board. With the disabled toilet out of order and the aisles in the carriages being too narrow to fit a wheelchair in, Christopher was left with no choice but to wet himself. How many more people like Anne and Christopher have had similar experiences, but are not quite as brave and forthright in speaking out?

With train operating companies achieving eye-watering profits, one can conclude that the ‘disabled market’ is not their target (in the UK alone it is worth over £249 billion per annum).

YouGov research we conducted in 2016 showed 72% of the population thought more should be done on accessibility. When ethics, legislation, public opinion and commercials are in such harmony, there appears to be no logical reason why this problem is not fixed as a matter of urgency. Mr Maynard?

Ted Hill MBE, Chief Executive, The British Polio Fellowship