Save Access at Brentford Station
Transport for All
Our friends from Save Access at Brentford Station (a campaigning group connected to Ealing Centre for Independent Living)...
Our friends from Save Access at Brentford Station (a campaigning group connected to Ealing Centre for Independent Living) are organising a demo on the 18th April 2018, to protest against South Western Railway which is threatening to get rid of their “no guard on board, no train” policy; opening the way for trains to run without a guard on board. Such a decision will affect accessibility at many stations (including Brentford).
Transport for All will be there to support local campaigners; and you are invited to join Save Access at the Brentford Station demo.
The main protest will start at 12 midday at Waterloo station. But you are also more than welcome to join campaigners at Brentford station at 10am for a picture and protest; they will then shortly make their way to join the protest at Waterloo station.
When: 12 midday on Wednesday 18th April 2018
Where: Waterloo Station
(more info about the location will be communicated to people interested in joining the demo)
No Guards, no Access
Brentford station is unstaffed, so the guard is the only person who can help with the ramp. The guard currently gets out of the train, unlocks the ramp located on the platform, or gets the one from inside the train and positions it for wheelchair access. The decision from South Western Railways will therefore make Brentford station – one of the few step-free stations in West London – inaccessible on many occasions.
For many this will add uncertainty to their journeys visiting the Southbank with all it has to offer, to getting to work, and will mean an end to our right to turn-up-and-go like everyone else.
“I have been using Brentford Station since it became fully accessible in 2009 when I first started using an electric wheelchair outdoors. I will not be able to use the station without being sure I can get on the train, so soon it will no longer be an option, which makes me very sad” says TfA member, Sally O’ Connor.
The message to South Western Railway is don’t axe access at Brentford station.
- We want Turn-Up-And-Go assistance guaranteed.
- We want the presence of guards on board the trains to be guaranteed.
- We want staff at unstaffed stations.
Are you affected by this issue?
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