Help for disabled

Press, 5 August 1981, Page 21

Help for disabled

Disabled travellers will find long distance train travel more accessible by the introduction of a portable boarding ramp designed by New Zealand Railways’ engineers. The 180 cm long ramp is of aluminium; a plywood deck is covered with nongßp surface. It has aluminilm grab rails which extend beyond the ramp to help the walking handicapped to pull themselves on board. The rails fold flat when not in use and the ramp, which weights about 33kg can be wheeled on its edge. It will be stored in the guard’s van when not in use. Garry Miscall, a 33-year-old disabled with a nervous disease, recently tested the ramp. He last travelled on a train two years ago, when a friend had to carry him piggyback on board. Before the ramp was to be introduced, Garry preferred to

fiy. "Now I won't hesitate to go by train," he says. It was a lot cheaper, and he would also be able to travel alone as Railways’ staff would give him any help needed. A New Zealand Railways design engineer, Mr lan McDonald, says that while some other rail systems, including Netherlands Railways and British Rail, have portable boarding ramps available on some platforms, as far as is known this is the first time a folding ramp for use by disabled people has been carried on a train. It will be used on the Northerner, Silver Fern, Endeavour, and Southerner, and the Picton - Christchurch and Wellington - Masterton expresses. A narrow wheelchair will be used with the ramp. A disabled person will slide from his or her own chair into the narrow chair, and

then be pushed up the ramp, either by a Railways’ staff member or their own attendant.

This chair can negotiate the accessway between the carriages and will also fit into the sleeping compartments on the Northerner service.

Not only those confined to wheelchairs will benefit from the ramp. Mrs Pat Hall, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, says that she felt much more confident using the ramp than stepping on board. “When I step from a train, I often feel as though I'm going to fail,” she adds. When making a booking for a disabled traveller, whether by telephone or at a booking office, the public should point out that the passenger is disabled and say whether the special wheelchair is required. This would then be recorded on the booking list.