Frustration continues over station access

A Herefordshire wheelchair user and campaigner says cancellation of promised improvements at a key railway station leaves a “crazy” situation in place for mobility-impaired passengers.

Hereford resident Cameron Wood said Ledbury station “is inaccessible for those with mobility issues” as “you can get in and out on one side but you can’t get to the other without crossing the railway line” given that access is solely via steps across the line.

So when travelling there from the city, “you have to continue on to Colwall and change platforms there, which not only takes a lot longer, but you also need another ticket”, he said. “It’s crazy.”

The roughly hourly journey ordinarily costs £8.60 and takes 16-19 minutes, National Rail’s website shows.

But the extra leg to Colwall then takes a further six or seven minutes each way, which, with the extra wait, more than doubles the journey time and costs an extra £6.50.

“I’ve been working with West Midlands Railway on trying to get them to install new accessibility measures on the platforms,” Mr Wood said. “It has to change.”

A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: “Any passenger who needs support with their journey plan is encouraged to speak to a member of staff, use a help point or contact Passenger Assistance to receive guidance on their route, including through the use of alternative stations where step-free access is not currently available.”

They did not address whether accessibility would be improved at Ledbury station.

The station was one of 19 to lose out nationally on Access for All funding from the Government, it was announced this month.

Transport minister Lord Hendy said the previous Conservative government had announced feasibility work on Ledbury and 49 other stations “without indicating how the delivery of such schemes would be funded, raising significant stakeholder expectations”.

Local Green councillor Stef Simmons said many people in Ledbury with mobility issues, as well as parents with pushchairs, “have waited too long for safe, step-free access at our station”.

“The Government seems to suggest Herefordshire Council should be paying for Network Rail duties under the Equalities Act,” she said.

“Given they have just further cut our budget, I’d like to ask the minister where the council is supposed to magic this money from.”