Oldham MP insists disabled people are being forced off railways

Pictured (left to right): A Downing Street security guard accepts the petition from Helen Rowlands, representing the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People; Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth; and Pete Marshall, also GMCDP

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams says Government plans to ‘modernise the railways’ will instead mean many disabled people will be further excluded from using their local train services.

Joining campaigners from Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) at Downing Street, to hand in a petition signed by over 160 organisations representing disabled people, the Labour MP called on the Government to rethink plans to reorganise staffing levels.

Ms Abrahams said: “The Government’s plans to ‘modernise the railways’ as they put it, is a real issue for many disabled people and will detrimentally affect their ability to live full and independent lives.

“We have an example of how disabled people are already marginalised on our own doorstep at Greenfield station, where the only way to get from one platform to another is via a bridge with steps. 

“In addition to the current physical access issues, the Government’s plans to take guards off the trains, take staff out of ticket offices, and reduce the hours that certain stations are staffed, will only exacerbate the situation for disabled people.

“The UK is a signatory of the UN Convention on the rights of disabled people and accessibility is one of those rights, but, as a country, we just aren't we delivering on it.

"All the evidence shows that disabled people are already excluded from society, they already use public transport a lot less and, in this day and age, we really need to make sure that disabled people are able to live a full and inclusive life.” 

Helen Rowlands, representing the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, said: “It was a great boost for our rail access campaign to have Debbie Abrahams accompany us into Downing Street. 

“Debbie is much respected for her parliamentary work in support of disabled people's rights and with her help we hope a parliamentary debate on the crisis of rail inaccessibility will soon be taking place. 

“Our message to the Prime Minister is very simple: he must act urgently to protect disabled passengers access rights by preventing the rail operator plans to shut our ticket offices, destaffed stations and remove guards from trains.”

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