Call for disabled access upgrade at rail station

Travel: Passenger told to hobble across level crossing at Aberdeen

A woman recovering from a knee replacement was told to hobble across a level crossing when she arrived at Aberdeen Railway Station – or be carried up the stairs.

Businesswoman Carolyn Maniukiewicz had travelled from Edinburgh to the north-east with no issues due to her “temporary disability”, which has left her relying on a walking stick.

But after the train pulled into platform seven at Aberdeen Railway Station – on the other side of the tracks from the arrivals area – she discovered the lift was broken.

When customer care staff asked if Ms Maniukiewicz would be able to climb the stairs to reach the rest of the station, she explained it would not be possible due to her knee – and declined an offer to be carried up the stairs.

The company director was then told the only way for her – and the worker pushing the refreshment trolley – to get across the tracks was via a level crossing further into the station.

Leading disability campaign er Dame Anne Begg said ScotRail should have “appropriate contingencies” in place to assist people with mobility issues when the lift is broken. ScotRail insisted the level crossing was the standard way for passengers to cross the tracks if the lift is not working.

Ms Maniukiewicz, director of Turriff-based business development company Ideas in Partnership, said: “What happened, if it was not serious, could actually be seen as farcical.

“They brought out a wheelchair, and pointed deeper into the station towards a green light.

“I was wheeled along into the bowels of the station, and the guy who was pushing me then put the light to red.

“I was told I would have to walk across the railway line, so I hobbled across with my walking stick, closely followed by a gentleman pushing the refreshment trolley.”

Ms Maniukiewicz added: “What they said to me is that I should have phoned ahead of time when I was in Edinburgh and told them of my mobility needs, but how on earth would a passenger know ahead of time that the lift was broken?”

A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear that Ms Maniukiewicz had an unhappy experience with us.

“We will contact Ms Maniukiewicz in the coming days, so that we can learn from her experience.

“We are committed to making this railway open and accessible to all.”

“How would a passenger know ahead of time the lift was broken?”

MOBILITY: Carolyn Maniukiewicz struggled at the station due to the lift being broken