Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, said it was a scandal that in the 21st century disabled people in Wales face a second class system of travel, which was stifling their freedom and independence.
During a Welsh Conservative Opposition debate on Access to Public Transport, Mr George said it was the responsibility of all politicians to ensure disabled people had both the opportunity and ability to lead more independent lives and for many people, the accessibility of public transport was one of the greatest challenges faced on a daily basis.
Commenting during the debate, Mr George said:
“It is quite incredible that only 8 per cent of railway stations in Wales are disabled friendly – that is just 16 out of 220 railway stations that have wheelchair access to the platform, accessible toilets and wheelchair access to the train.
“In my constituency, a number of railway stations are inaccessible to people who are disabled. Trying to get over some of the railway bridges, like the one in Newtown which is only accessible by sets of steps or under bridges like the one in Machynlleth that regularly floods in bad weather in order to get onto the right platform, is an absolute impossibility.
“Even in those stations that are deemed to have reasonable access like Welshpool which has had a set of ramps installed in recent years, the gradient of the ramps are so steep, they cannot be negotiated without considerable help. One constituent told me that she could not even make the crossing in her powerful electric wheelchair and that it was akin to “skiing down the Alps”.
“There is no getting away from it, we as politicians must do better. Upgrading our public transport infrastructure, particularly our railway stations, needs to be part of a package of measures to help disabled people to live more independent lives.”
