I'm a daily user of the W Dulwich train station and am appalled by how user-unfriendly the stairs are at the station. I know many people feel the same way. I have vowed to try to do something about it and this is my first step. I'm not sure how to affect change, so if there's someone out there who knows how I/we should go about this, please chip in. I think it will need a collective voice in order to be heard by rail network giants. Below are 2 issues regarding the stairs / access to the train platform.

1) First of all, surely there can be another staircase at the middle of the platform heading into town instead of only one near the station entrance. It would save quite a few people from sprinting down the pathway to catch it and would ease congestion of the stairs in the mornings.

2) Secondly, and a bigger issue than the one above...The platform is extremely difficult to access for those with buggys and virtually impossible for those with a wheelchair. I know most stations are just as inaccessible and only have stairs, but with so much land and space around the platform, surely we could have a ramp built as well. At the minimum we should have stairs that are not so steep -- the stairs for the southbound platform are narrow, steep, AND collect pools of water -- I'm surprised there aren't frequent injuries. I don't know if the rail companies are responsible for the unsuccessful planting along the pathway to/from the southbound platform, but I'd rather money be spent on improving the stairs!

I was not here last summer when apparently, due to a petition, British Rail (I think) finally cut back the overgrown nettles and weeds that made the pathway along the track dangerous to use. If you know how it was done, let me know. Maybe a petition is needed. (If it is, would you be willing to sign it?)

Thanks,
W.D. Resident who wants to make living in WD better

Hi W.D. Resident on both the points you've raised I couldn't agree with you more. i've also wondered why there couldn't be a staricase at the southern end of the platform. I would imagine a letter or feedback form to South Eastern would be the first port of call [www.southeasternrailway.co.uk]. Although, I'm happy to sign a petition should one be needed.

DS



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 20/03/2008 13:34 by downsouth.

Same here. I stopped using the station because I don't feel safe using it in the Winter when its quiet and dark. Stair access directly to the street would be good and also those stairs on Platform 2 are really dangerous. I always kept getting the backs of my shoes stuck on the way down (I have medium sized feet size 5.5) especially when there are so many people and its been raining.

Oh and it needs much more lighting at night time. If you get a petition started I'd be happy to help.

Not sure if anyone remembers when they regenerated the station about 12 years ago? There was a temporary station built there with a set of stairs half way down the embankment. This was quality! It was so easy walking in through glazebrook close and heading straight up these stairs without having to leg it down the alley and up the stairs every morning.
I'd totally back any movement to get better access to the station.

I really agree. Is there any progress on lobbying the rail company/Network Rail to do something about this?

They have laid some paving stones near the dangerous stairs by platform 2 so maybe something is happening.

The main thing for me would be an entry/exit further up platform 1 and a bridge connecting the two platforms.

I think the basic problem is that the platform is way too narrow to handle the people waiting for trains, sometimes it feels downright dangerous, this surely needs addressing.

Has anyone raised this issue with the relevant companies? It's all well and good to complain about something but if you're not going to do anything about it...

building a bridge is probably the most pointless idea i have heard in a long time...

for all those people that take a train at blackfriars, and change at west dulwich to get to london victora...

probably cost tens of thousands of pounds, will involve restricting services during construction period (can they put these things up over a weekend?) and benefit a handful of people if that every day...

if people didn't like sprinting for the train i would presume they would leave their houses earlier each morning, and perhaps even by a latte and a paper from the implausibly chirpy man at the station (doesn't he know it's monday?)

I started this thread and am sorry that I've not progressed this further (went back to work full-time after maternity leave so don't have much free time any more on the computer...sigh). I think about this issue everyday when I run for the train and when I slowly and carefully make my way down the narrow stairs homeward bound. Anyway, thanks for giving your opinions and suggestions. I will 1) ask the station manager, and 2) contact the rail companies and see what they say.

The stairs coming out of the station on the Southbound side are dangerous. i saw a woman slip in the rain the other day - luckily for her there were so many people crowding down them that she didn't fall far. The tread is too narrow and the metal edges stick up in places to trip you, and are slippery when wet. How can the station think it is okay?

I agree with 'westsoutheast' that a bridge and other idea's raised would be a waste of time but I do think the southbound stairs are dangerous - i've trip on a few occasions and can't watch when an old or pregnant person is attempting to descent... Awful, especially when the train fares are so high and we have to put up with rude yobs most days...!

I have made a complaint about the safety of the stairs to the platforms via a feedback page on the Southeastern website.

[www.southeasternrailway.co.uk]

I suggest everyone who feels the same does the same thing. It's a good place to start.

I'd rather see a decent train service provided so that we have something to bother actually getting into the station for!

RE.WESTSOUTHEAST

I am appalled someone could be so selfish - I can only assume you have never seen a disabled person (or even someone with a pushchair) struggle up those stairs? Well I have - my father was in a wheelchair. Possibly if some accident befell you, then you wouldn't be so worried whether alternative access "only benefitted a handful of people", as long as one of them was you.

In any event, I consider this station (any many other on the same line) to be in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act and will be pursuing the matter in memory of my father. If I succeed and wheelchair access is installed I hope this does not inconvenience my fellow passengers too greatly (I also use the station daily, seven days a week). I also hope that, if there is minor disruption, they will be adult enough to understand why - with the exception of Westsoutheast, of course

....as for Nessie - leave your address and next time a wheelchair user wants to exit at West Dulwich station I'll ask you to come and carry them down the stairs. Will a bridge seem a waste of time to you then?

apologies I actually meant a waste of time as it affects few people and thus probably wouldn't happen, especially when Herne Hill with it's lift is so near - thus a waste of time from the point of view that time might be better spent trying to get the stairs fixed before working on an expensive bridge campaign...

I do often help those with prams etc and do certainly agree that it is unusual for any public place to contravene the Disability act...

What do they currently do for wheelchair users?

Well, believe it or not, when I rang the station manager the best they could offer was to pay for a taxi for the nearest station with wheelchair access. This meant that we had to get a taxi from Sydenham Hill to Herne Hill to get a train to Penge East - ludicrous. It's also incredible to think how few stations on that line have wheelchair access; Brixton, Kent House, Bromley South etc. I think the railway in this country seriously needs modernising

that dazzaman is shocking...

Sadly it says a lot of the entire railway network - I know it's nothing to do with this forum, but I decided to take my father to Twickenham to watch the rugby one weekend. I had seen a wheelchair lift at the station when I had gone before, so unconcerned about taking him. However, when I asked one of the station attendants for help he told me "the man who usually works the lift is off today" and then asked "do you know how this works?". If is wasn't so infuriating I would have laughed. It took four station attendants half an hour and a lot of head scratching before they managed to get my father to the top of the stairs. Needless to say, he refused to come back by train and instead we got a taxi instead (£55)

So, has anyone heard anything from the station operator? If not, then perhaps a petition should be made as those steps are awfully steep. I see the parents struggling to and from the local schools trying to carry or help their kids down the stairs. It's even worse when they have toddlers in tow.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 26/11/2008 13:11 by downsouth.

Well in the icy conditions it's always a bit of a white-knuckle experience. I am sure I will find myself on youtube one day as I slide down the stairs on my rear-end!

Seriously though, happy to take this forward if no-one has heard anything/

Dazzaman please save your appalled feelings!

My post attacked:
a) a pointless bridge across the 2 platforms - no one ever changes trains here, and a bridge with steps up and down is scarcely going to solve the wheelchair problems

b) another set of stairs as access halfway up the London platform - clearly people will just set off 30-60 seconds later and still just end up sprinting up late for the train.

At no point did I criticise anything that might help wheelchair bound people in the slightest!

Well I have e-mailed network Southeast (or whatever they call themself this week) asking them to explain how the means of access to both West Dulwich and Sydenham hill complies with the Disability Discrimination Act. I had a reply that Head Office will reply to me (I assumed that's who I e-mailed via the website) - so watch this space.

If noth

'Morning, ladies and gents!

Finally got a reply about West Dulwich station and the DDA- guess what? They say it's not up to them, it's Network Rail. I think that's called passing the buck?

Anyhow, I'll now write to them and also the Strategic Rail Authority to see if they can help.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!

Thanks for the update. Good luck

Totally agree that the station is terrible for getting your buggy up.

We could start a petition - could use one of those online sites like www.gopetition.co.uk (or a better one if anyone knows of one?)

I now use West Norwood station, it has ramp access to both platforms (you actually walk down the streets at the sides to get to each of the platforms). It's a bit of a walk, and the train to Victoria takes a little longer (but is more frequent), but if you've got a buggy its SO MUCH easier!

Good morning and Happy New Year to everyone

Well, still no reply from the railway (shock horror). I think it's time to get the local MP involved and I may also have a go at starting a petition as yummymummy suggested. I will also try the local media, see if that type of cage-rattling has any effect.

Anyhow, please all go careful on the platform(s) in these icy conditions

'Morning all

Just a couple of things - firstly I thought you may be interested in this, an extract from the EDM (Early Day Motion) 911 dated 1.11.2005

"That this House is gravely concerned at the lack of disabled access to railway stations in the UK; expresses alarm that only 7.6 per cent. of railway stations are fully accessible, with 11.3 per cent. of railway stations being completely inaccessible to people with disabilities; notes that there are 9.8 million adults with a disability in the UK; further notes that inaccessible stations also cause problems for parents with buggies, and elderly people; strongly believes that these people have the same rights of access to railway stations as able-bodied passengers; and calls upon Network Rail and the companies responsible for railway stations in the UK urgently to improve access in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 so that everyone can make use of rail services"

Which attracted 145 signatures- wondering if MP may also be a route?

Also, this is an extract from the House of Commons debate in March 2008

"Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints her Department has received from (a) individuals and (b) organisations on railway stations without adequate disabled access. [193610]

Mr. Tom Harris: Since 2005, when the Department for Transport took over responsibility for station access from the Strategic Rail Authority, we have received 20 complaints from individuals, and 10 complaints from organisations, about the level of access to railway stations for disabled people"

So it appears Department of Transport may be the route to go - watch this space

......sorry to go on - just seen a list of station entrances due to be modernised by 2015 - and guess what folks? Nothing on our line gets a mention!

See what I mean...

[www.dft.gov.uk]