A wheelchair user was nearly unable to travel from a train station in Buckinghamshire, due to its inaccessibility for disabled users.

Katie Pennick, a disability campaigner, journalist and broadcaster, described how she was trying to get to London from a ‘small Oxfordshire station’ but accessibility issues made the journey nearly impossible.

The station has since been identified as Haddenham and Thame Parkway in Aylesbury.

Taking to Twitter, Ms Pennick wrote: “I’m a wheelchair user, and I can’t travel by train on Sundays (it seems).

“Context: I’m trying to get to London from a small Oxfordshire station. I’ve booked assistance using @PassAssistance, but it is ‘unconfirmed’.

“I’ve arrived at the station, and there are no staff…”

 

Passenger Assistance is an app for disabled people which allows users to request assistance for rail travel in Great Britain.

Ms Pennick added the assistance desk at the station was closed and there were no staff at the station. This meant there was no one around to unlock the ramp which would allow her to board the train.

Ms Pennick wrote: “If I was on my own I would be totally stranded.

“Luckily my partner is strong and was somehow able to drag my wheelchair up the giant step onto the train.”

However, both of the wheelchair spaces on the train were entirely taken up by bikes.

Mentioning Chiltern Railways in the tweet, Ms Pennick asked: “How can wheelchair users travel on Sundays? How far in advance do we have to book assistance in order to be able to travel? And is this fair or reasonable?

“More importantly: does it have to be like this?”

Ms Pennick then ended her Twitter thread on three final points.

She wrote: “1) @PassAssistance, while a brilliant app, does not in itself solve the myriad of issues disabled people face when travelling by rail.

“2) Unstaffed stations are inaccessible stations.

“3) @LevelBoarding would solve everything.”

A spokesperson from Chiltern Railways said: “At Chiltern Railways, we work hard to ensure the highest standards when helping Passenger Assist customers.

“To best support customers requesting this service, rail firms recommend that they book Passenger Assist at least 6 hours in advance.

“This condition is stated clearly on our website.

“Advance notice helps us plan the support required. Booking at short notice means that we cannot guarantee to support customers as we would like." 

Ms Pennick has been approached for comment.

The article has been amended to reflect the correct location of the train station.