Transport for All spoke out angrily today about revelations from London Underground documents that a third of stations would be left unstaffed as a result of job cuts.
Lianna Etkind, Campaigns and Outreach Coordinator, said:
“Many of our members quite simply cannot use the tube without assistance from staff.
“Whether it’s helping a blind person on stairs and escalators, advising a wheelchair user on step-free routes or stations with toilets, or supporting someone with a learning disability to use an automatic ticket machine, safe levels of staffing on the Underground is absolutely essential for the ability of thousands of Londoners to travel in the capital.
“Accessibility on the Tube still lags a long way behind other world cities. Unstaffed stations will mean that more and more often, disabled and older people say no to a job, a night out with friends, a trip to see family, because the risk of being left stranded on the platform is just too great.
“LU’s plans to cut staff are an attack on disabled and older people’s independence.”
Youcef Bey-Zekkoub, caseworker at Transport for All, said:
“As a wheelchair user and I use the tube quite regularly. But most of station have no step-free access and I usually ask for assistance to get on the train, as 9 out of 10 of the step-free stations have a gap between the train and the station.
“Although I was terrified of using the underground, staff members at LU stations have increased my confidence by the help they provided to me.
“Without the support of staff members I will not be able to use the Tube.”
Notes to Editors
Lianna Etkind can be contacted on 07913 777 076
Youcef Bey Zekkoub can be contacted on 020 7 737 2339
Transport for All have been campaigning to keep stations safely staffed.
http://www.transportforall.org.uk/news/tfa-flashmob-for-staffed-stations
Transport for All is a disability rights group that campaigns for accessible transport across London.
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