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Leigh On Sea News. Supporting Disabled Passengers – THE MP for Southend West has called for support for disabled passengers, after news that the ticket offices at Chalkwell and Leigh stations could be permanently closed as part of a national roll out.
Supporting Disabled Passengers - THE MP for Southend West has called for support for disabled passengers, after news that the ticket offices at Chalkwell and Leigh stations could be permanently closed as part of a national roll out.
THE MP for Southend West has called for support for disabled passengers, after news that the ticket offices at Chalkwell and Leigh stations could be permanently closed as part of a national roll out.
Anna Firth has called for disabled passengers to always be able to access the support and assistance that they need, adding that she was ‘especially worried’ about the blind and partially sighted, who are unable to use touchscreen ticket machines.
Instead, there will be dedicated ‘floorwalkers’ in the station to help passengers buy tickets and with other enquiries.
In the House of Commons on July 6, Mrs Firth said: “Innovation must never be used as an excuse to exclude any of my constituents or deliver a worse service.
“The blind and partially sighted cannot access the touchscreen ticket machines and need a person to help them buy that ticket.”
Mrs Firth called on the Transport Minister to assure her that there would always be somebody available at Leigh and Chalkwell ticket stations to help the blind and partially sighted, the elderly, and anyone else who needs help.
She added: “Whilst I very much welcome the rollout of contactless ticketing along the c2c line, this innovation cannot come at the expense of passenger safety or mean that people have a worse service. I have been contacted by a number of concerned residents about the proposals to shut ticket offices at our local stations, and I have raised these concerns in the House of Commons.
“I wanted to respond formally to the Transport Focus consultation to share my concerns, as well as those that have been raised with me by local residents.
“Railways are a vital part of our local infrastructure and I will continue to campaign to ensure that they are accessible to everyone.”
Picture: Anna Firth meets with c2c Chairman Rob Mullen
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