Sir Peter Hendy, Brigg Line

[Philip Phlopp]

A ramp can not be provided on the Sheffield platform at Brigg as the out of use platform is unstable and would cost a fortune to put right, this was highlighted by an independent structural engineer but Network Rail North East took no notice and went on their tick box exercise, again this has been highlighted to Sir Peter Hendy.

It would depend on the design of modular ramp chosen, a U shaped design would only need one intermediate support on the closed off section of the platform, well away from the platform edge, if the platform can't cope with that, I'd suggest it's in need of some fairly urgent remedial action in that case, because if it's allowed to worsen, it's possible the platform will collapse onto the running line.

This is, of course, very far from being an unusual problem, in fact it's one of the most frequent issues NR and TOC people encounter when investigating why routes that used to have 8 and 10 coach express services can't now operate more than 2 or 4 car Pacer units.

They typically find the platform deterioration issue is what prompted British Rail to fence off bits of platforms, though as ever with the great rose tinted railway, the documentation concerning old and failing platforms is often nowhere to be seen, so those concerned (and it does hit us in electrification at times) have no idea whether there was one or two platforms that had deteriorated or whether it's almost every platform on a given line.

 

[route:oxford]

That's all well and good, but what about people in wheelchairs?

Indeed. You do have to read carefully the quote I responded to though:-

A bridge which makes it impossible for disabled people to use the train...

Having a disability doesn't automatically qualify you for a wheelchair.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

True, but it would make it impossible for Zimmer Frame, Wheelchair, Pushchair, Mobillity Scooter, users etc.
The point I'm making is that no one should be excluded from Rail travel at all.