FGW Apology After Woman's Train Crawl

[whole diary]

[Lee]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has apologised after a Cornwall woman's wheelchair could not fit through compartment doors , forcing her to crawl to her seat (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/05/fgw_apology_after_womans_train.html#more

Edna Flambard , of Helston , was told beforehand that her wheelchair would fit on the train to London.

But instead it had to be stored in the guard's van for the journey , leaving Mrs Flambard unable to use it.

She was so upset by having to crawl through the carriage that she would be driving in future.

She said: "It was a full train. Everybody wanted to help and nobody could."

"They were so embarrassed that they couldn't look at me."

Mrs Flambard was also left with injuries to her leg as the crawling aggravated a debilitating skin condition.

First Great Western said they had looked into the matter and had discovered that the recent refurbishment of a number of the high speed trains had left access into first class carriage too narrow for a wheelchair.

They said as they had become aware of the problem it would be rectified as soon as possible and that they wanted to apologise to Mrs Flambard for her experience.

[intercity125]

I think you'll find that the national rail conditions of carriage state there is a maximum size for wheelchairs....!!!!

[vacman]

I think you'll find that the national rail conditions of carriage state there is a maximum size for wheelchairs....!!!!

There certainly is a maximum size and i've seen some big electric wheelchairs in my time!