Station frustration

VICTORIA Park councillor Claire Anderson says minimum accessibility standards are not good enough after she was left with no way to get onto the platform at Victoria Park train station last week.

About 3.30pm last Wednesday, Cr Anderson, who uses a wheelchair, was on her way to a doctor’s appointment in Perth with her daughter when she discovered the lift to the platform was broken.

She said there was no other way to get down the stairs to board the train so she had to miss her appointment.

“It was annoying, but imagine if I’d been coming from Perth and arrived at the station with no way off the platform,” she said.

“Sometimes I come home from the city late at night and there isn’t always a security guard – what would I have done?”

She said the lift was not working on the Tuesday either.

Public Transport Authority media manager David Hynes acknowledged the lift had been broken twice during the week.

He said the first time it was fixed on the same day.

But it was damaged again later in the week, only working intermittently, before being repaired again on Thursday.

“This damage, to the door sensor mechanisms, was originally thought to have been vandalism, but could have been caused by something like a gopher being repeatedly run into the doors,” Mr Hynes said.

“We repair any such faults to our station infrastructure as soon as we become aware of them; usually on the same day.”

He said people were based at the station in case of incidents like this and in the past, people stranded had been accompanied to the next station on the next train and a taxi arranged to take them to their destination.

Cr Anderson said a community working group comprising councillors and residents had input into the design of the station but many elements were cut as a result of funding shortages.

“What we need are some strategies to prevent this happening in the future.

“We need access on and off the platform that is both safe and dignified.”

However, Mr Hynes said there were no substantive design changes made as a result of budget considerations.

What everyone else is thinking

A Raspa

04/11/2009

As an able bodied person, I find it rude that Mr Hayes is apparently blaming people who need 'gophers" (presumably motorised wheelchairs) for the damage to the lift.
And not to provide a non-technological exit to the station is surely against safety regulations? What else has not been provided in the interests of 'cost savings' in these new stations?

Hugh Hyland

03/11/2009

In this modern society, all stations need ramps.

Robin

There was a similar problem at Armadale Station - again due to lack of concern and correct funding. Ramps which are at the correct angle - and not too long (think of the carer pushing a heavy person up a long incline) are essential and a RIGHT.
Public toilets are another issue - they are either locked or too far away. My late husband was totally helpless in a wheelchair, and I was suffering the after-effects of having treatment for rectal cancer - which often included URGENT incontinence (which the best of personal products do not always handle). It was often a BIG problem for us to travel by public transport - or go anywhere we would be reliant on public toilets.
I understand the problems with security and damage, but surely pensioners or those looking for work could be rostered on (preferably in pairs) to cover the full day. I remember when lifts always had an attendant - oh - but I forget - they were "the bad old days".