This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8076097.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Disabled transport access protest | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A series of demonstrations are taking place across Wales to highlight difficulties faced by disabled people accessing public transport. | A series of demonstrations are taking place across Wales to highlight difficulties faced by disabled people accessing public transport. |
| The events in Wrexham, Cardiff and Newport have been organised by the Multiple Sclerosis Society Cymru. | |
| The charity is calling on the assembly government to do more to make rail and bus services easier to use. | The charity is calling on the assembly government to do more to make rail and bus services easier to use. |
| The assembly government agreed there was a need to continue to improve accessibility to public transport. | |
| Steve Neal is one of those who demonstrated at Wrexham General station on Monday. | |
| The 55-year-old was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 20 years ago, and has relied on a wheelchair to get about for the last five years. | The 55-year-old was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 20 years ago, and has relied on a wheelchair to get about for the last five years. |
| "You can't just book a train and turn up," explained the former mechanical project manager, who is a member of the MS Society in Wrexham. | "You can't just book a train and turn up," explained the former mechanical project manager, who is a member of the MS Society in Wrexham. |
| It's only when you are actually in a wheelchair and you have to get from A to B that you realise just how difficult it can be Steve Neal, MS sufferer | It's only when you are actually in a wheelchair and you have to get from A to B that you realise just how difficult it can be Steve Neal, MS sufferer |
| "You have to find out whether there is access to the platform, whether you will need help at your destination, simple things like whether there is platform lift - and if it will be working." | "You have to find out whether there is access to the platform, whether you will need help at your destination, simple things like whether there is platform lift - and if it will be working." |
| He said that in many rail stations, including Wrexham, platform lifts can be closed in the evening. | He said that in many rail stations, including Wrexham, platform lifts can be closed in the evening. |
| "I was aware of this on a trip back from Cardiff, but in my case I was lucky. | "I was aware of this on a trip back from Cardiff, but in my case I was lucky. |
| "The train operator arranged for a taxi to pick me up in Shrewsbury and take me home." | "The train operator arranged for a taxi to pick me up in Shrewsbury and take me home." |
| But he said disabled friends and wheelchair users he knew had often hit travel snags. | But he said disabled friends and wheelchair users he knew had often hit travel snags. |
| Wheelchair | Wheelchair |
| "One of my colleagues was helped on to a train, but the staff found that the wheelchair couldn't fit in the train corridor, so he had to be helped out of the chair to his seat," said Mr Neal. | "One of my colleagues was helped on to a train, but the staff found that the wheelchair couldn't fit in the train corridor, so he had to be helped out of the chair to his seat," said Mr Neal. |
| "Another, a woman, was left in the corridor in her wheelchair for her whole journey. | "Another, a woman, was left in the corridor in her wheelchair for her whole journey. |
| "It's only when you are actually in a wheelchair and you have to get from A to B that you realise just how difficult it can be." | "It's only when you are actually in a wheelchair and you have to get from A to B that you realise just how difficult it can be." |
| The issue is also due to be raised in a Liberal Democrat debate in the assembly on Wednesday. | The issue is also due to be raised in a Liberal Democrat debate in the assembly on Wednesday. |
| All new stations and any that are substantially improved have to meet the regulations of the Disability Discrimination Act Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson | All new stations and any that are substantially improved have to meet the regulations of the Disability Discrimination Act Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson |
| Funding for improvements to trains and their stations is not a devolved issue, and rests with the Department of Transport. | Funding for improvements to trains and their stations is not a devolved issue, and rests with the Department of Transport. |
| The department, with Network Rail, is in the middle of a 10-year programme to improve access, spending £370m on 200 stations in Britain under its "Access for All" scheme. | The department, with Network Rail, is in the middle of a 10-year programme to improve access, spending £370m on 200 stations in Britain under its "Access for All" scheme. |
| A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said "The Welsh Assembly Government agrees that there is a need to continue to improve accessibility to public transport. | A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said "The Welsh Assembly Government agrees that there is a need to continue to improve accessibility to public transport. |
| The assembly government is working with Network Rail and other public transport providers to encourage improved access., he added. | The assembly government is working with Network Rail and other public transport providers to encourage improved access., he added. |
| "All new stations and any that are substantially improved have to meet the regulations of the Disability Discrimination Act ( DDA). | "All new stations and any that are substantially improved have to meet the regulations of the Disability Discrimination Act ( DDA). |
| "This is not the case for old, unimproved stations. | "This is not the case for old, unimproved stations. |
| "As a matter of course when the Welsh Assembly Government unds new stations or substantially improves them, they are all designed to comply with DDA, for example the new station of the Vale of Glamorgan and Ebbw Valley railway lines. | "As a matter of course when the Welsh Assembly Government unds new stations or substantially improves them, they are all designed to comply with DDA, for example the new station of the Vale of Glamorgan and Ebbw Valley railway lines. |