WHEELCHAIR users and people with mobility issues have been left unable to use Colchester train station due to a faulty lift and inadequate chair lift, with a husband and wife having to travel to Manningtree and then return to Colchester before they could get home safely.

Greater Anglia announced in December the lifts at Colchester North Station were to be out of service for three months.

But with the replace stair lifts now also out of action, it meant that Dorian and Sheila Kelly were forced to travel past Colchester and onto Manningtree, before having to catch a train back to Colchester, so they could get off on an accessible platform.

Mr Kelly had been travelling back from London on Friday with his wife, Sheila, who is a wheelchair user.

But after they found out the stairlifts weren’t working, they had to take the train to Manningtree before catching another train back to Colchester, from where they could finally make their way home.

Mr Kelly said: “Anyone in a wheelchair can’t get off at Colchester if they are coming from London, and they can’t get on the train if they are going northbound.

“Every train going to London seems to contain a wheelchair user, so there are huge numbers of people affected – not just my wife.

“The accessibility laws say that companies have to treat wheelchair users at least as well as everybody else, and they need to make sure there’s staff available to help with accessibility.”

Mr Kelly added the length of time it will take to repair the station’s lifts – which are not expected to be operational until the end of next month – is also questionable.

“If a lift is at a hotel, it normally gets fixed within a couple of weeks.

“Platforms one and two are completely inaccessible because they are on an island – you can only get there with a lift or a staircase.”

Responding to the criticism, a spokesman for Greater Anglia said passengers who cannot use the stairs should get in touch before they travel so they can advise the most convenient alternative options.

A statement from Greater Anglia read: "We are sorry that there is currently no step-free access to some platforms at Colchester station.

“We are currently replacing the lifts on platforms one and two and three to six to improve reliability and the facilities we provide for customers. The work means both lifts out of use until the end of March.

“Unfortunately, the stair lift from the subway to the north side exit has broken down and cannot be repaired.

"Because replacement parts are no longer available for this older model, a new one needs to be installed.

"To design, manufacture and install a new stair lift will take at least 20 weeks, meaning there is no step-free access to platforms one and two until the new lifts are open, which is currently due to be end the of March.

“As a result, alternative travel arrangements are currently in place.

“Anyone travelling on an intercity service from London to Colchester is advised to travel to Manningtree, where onward travel is arranged.

"Those travelling on an Ipswich or Clacton service should get off the train at Marks Tey.

"Full details can be found on a bespoke page on our website, which contains information for customers travelling to and from Colchester.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused while the work is taking place.

"We would encourage anyone who is unable to use the stairs at Colchester to get in touch with us or our Passenger Assist service before they travel so we can explain the work in more details and advise them of the most convenient alternative travel options for their journey.”

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