Disabled access : lifts vs ramps

[johntea]

An interesting development I read in that Pontefract Monkhill is having lifts installed

At long last: First designs for new disabled access at Pontefract Monkhill Station revealed

The first draft designs for new disabled access at a railway station have been revealed, following years of campaigning by locals.

www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk

Pontefract Monkhill Station's Platform 1 has only ever been accessible via a set of steps, making life a nightmare for wheelchair users and pram-pushing parents.
There have even be reports of one disabled passenger being forced to crawl up the stairs to leave the station after getting off the train.
Plans to install lifts on both the station's platforms, which will be linked by a new footbridge, have now finally been put forward and the work is expected to be completed in 2022.

As a wheelchair user of the station points out in the article, he would prefer ramps in case the lifts went out of action (also mentions he is claustrophobic)

To an extent I agree considering the location, why can't they just build a new footbridge with ramp and stair access as they have done at other local stations such as Normanton and Woodlesford?

 

[DarloRich]

An interesting development I read in that Pontefract Monkhill is having lifts installed

At long last: First designs for new disabled access at Pontefract Monkhill Station revealed

The first draft designs for new disabled access at a railway station have been revealed, following years of campaigning by locals.

www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk

As a wheelchair user of the station points out in the article, he would prefer ramps in case the lifts went out of action (also mentions he is claustrophobic)

To an extent I agree considering the location, why can't they just build a new footbridge with ramp and stair access as they have done at other local stations such as Normanton and Woodlesford?

Becuase the space needed for an incline complient ramp is massive.

I doubt the ramp at woody is to the current standard. I havent measured it but it looks to steep

Edit: in particular the need to build un several refuge/rest areas of level add to the required length of the ramp.

It is also worth noting not all disabled people use a wheelchair or have the strength of the quoted user

 

[YorksLad12]

Becuase the space needed for an incline complient ramp is massive.

I doubt the ramp at woody is to the current standard. I havent measured it but it looks to steep

Woodlesford's was built in the last 10/12 years wasn't it? Have the standards changed much in that time?

 

[DarloRich]

Woodlesford's was built in the last 10/12 years wasn't it? Have the standards changed much in that time?

They have changed in relation to gradient and refuge provision irc

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Sep 2020 ==

There is a dft policy somewhere that sets out the applicable gradients and and NR design policy that enhances that baseline requirements

 

[SussexLad]

An interesting development I read in that Pontefract Monkhill is having lifts installed

At long last: First designs for new disabled access at Pontefract Monkhill Station revealed

The first draft designs for new disabled access at a railway station have been revealed, following years of campaigning by locals.

www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk

As a wheelchair user of the station points out in the article, he would prefer ramps in case the lifts went out of action (also mentions he is claustrophobic)

To an extent I agree considering the location, why can't they just build a new footbridge with ramp and stair access as they have done at other local stations such as Normanton and Woodlesford?

I suggest you borrow a manual wheelchair and test the ramps you are referencing. You'll quickly see that a lot of ramps can be very difficult for manual wheelchair users who are alone...

 

[Legolash2o]

Shame they cant easily build a small ramp going under the tracks.

 

[SussexLad]

Shame they cant easily build a small ramp going under the tracks.

Not much better in some cases. Where their is ohle's it would be better. But...

What is really barmey is the removal of footpaths over tracks, if supervised by a member of staff this is a perfect emergency escape route. Yet certainly at aldershot they removed it a while ago so when the lifts youre stuck.

 

[fairysdad]

A number of years ago, I had to push a disabled relative's wheelchair (with them in it, of course!) over the footbridge at Tiverton Parkway station. Strangely, it was the descent that was was the worse part - going up wasn't too bad. So yeah - another 'vote' for lifts over ramps from here!

 

[DarloRich]

Shame they cant easily build a small ramp going under the tracks.

The rules on gradients and rest provision still apply.

 

[Legolash2o]

The rules on gradients and rest provision still apply.

But at least you don't have to go down as far as you would have to go up over the tracks. I could be wrong though.

 

[Bald Rick]

But at least you don't have to go down as far as you would have to go up over the tracks. I could be wrong though.

No, but with an underpass you don’t find out if it is too steep to push up until you are halfway across...

 

[CrispyUK]

There is a dft policy somewhere that sets out the applicable gradients and and NR design policy that enhances that baseline requirements

Horden station would be a good example to take a look at, with shallow incline and resting points, it makes a very long ramp each side of the overbridge.