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Shunt for the disabled on trains 30 September 2010

• Outraged of Sydney Posted at 7:41 AM September 30, 2010

what a massive insult. Why couldn't they consider the needs of the disabled when they designed the damn trains int he first place? And even then why when they made constant changes, as has been reported as a reason why they are late could they not accomodate?? Once again the corrupt and inept at RailCorp are getting away with doing sfa. They don't give a damn about anyone, let alone the disbaled, they only care about what they can line their pockest with. Its time the government got rid of railcorp enitrely and all its staff too. Don't re-employ them in other depts, just fire their good for nothing ars*s.

Comment 1 of 25

• Are you serious? of Penrith Posted at 7:43 AM September 30, 2010

This sounds like the biggest load of crock to come out yet. Look at what they are saying; 1) Giving them a coloured card to be seen? What happens if it's peak hour, or they are on the train? What about if they are out there in the dark? 2) "Railcorp said that it was improving procedures to assist people to cope with their disability"? They've had to cope with it for a while now, and i highly doubt they'd want assistance by railcorp anyways. Railcorp needs to get something right first.

Comment 2 of 25

• ex.serviceman of Sunny Coast Posted at 7:49 AM September 30, 2010

What a balls-up.... This action is degrading and robbing these people of there dignity !!! I would also think its against there basic there human rights.

Comment 3 of 25

• M. Webber of Sydney Posted at 8:05 AM September 30, 2010

This is ridiculus. What will happen if you have a four carriage train. People with disabilities are still being discriminated against in so many areas. I would say that those in so called authority and having so called brains need to get some common sense and listen with both ears and not let things go in one ear and out the other. Cater for ALL.

Comment 4 of 25

• gyro Posted at 8:06 AM September 30, 2010

what a joke.

Comment 5 of 25

• boston Posted at 8:09 AM September 30, 2010

i don't get it - makes a hell of a lot of sense!

Comment 6 of 25

• Ellen of Sydney Posted at 8:13 AM September 30, 2010

As a parent of a 12 year child with Cerebral Palsy, I despair at the society we live in, and the total lack of consideration and planning by government and the public service for disabled children, adults and their families. It appears to me that for those with a disability life is a neverending battle where dignity and autonomy count for nothing. Why is it that access for the disabled is considered an optional extra? This option of waving a high visibility card is insulting - you may as well insist that those in wheelchairs wear special high visibility clothing perhaps with a large D sewn on. The card is a mockery of the premise of accessbility.

Comment 7 of 25

• laurie of central coast Posted at 8:19 AM September 30, 2010

There but for the grace of god go any of us, a true saying, but why do disabled people believe that they have a divine right to disrupt the lives of "normal" people..as a late night shift worker catching an intercity from central, we had a disabled lady in a motorised wheelchair, who insisted on the guard walking the length of the train (4 cars) to the front car with the boarding ramp, and repeating the process when she alighted near the elevator at her stop, meanwhile the rest of us had to sit and wait. this type of behaviour sadly is a trait displayed by far too many, who should never be alone when using on public transport.

Comment 8 of 25

• Fay Posted at 8:36 AM September 30, 2010

Surely the railway is try to help and we should give it a try

Comment 9 of 25

• Peace For ALL Posted at 8:44 AM September 30, 2010

Another joke from CityFail. When is the government going to do something about this crap from its departments. Where is Barry O'Farrel??

Comment 10 of 25

• smarty of liverpool Posted at 8:47 AM September 30, 2010

this is not unusual. the state rail is full of problems. what does anybody expect from the current government.they're hopeless. as long as the people running the show get there pay rises in par with inflation , nothing or nobodyelse matters. this is another stupid idea coming from a very messy disfunctional government.

Comment 11 of 25

• Dock_Master of CBD Posted at 8:54 AM September 30, 2010

This is POOR FORM State Fail. What about those that cant raise their arms to show the card, What if they are surrounded by people (Rush Hour), what happens then. Waiting at End of Platform is soo unacceptable on so many levels.

Comment 12 of 25

• Samantha Posted at 8:55 AM September 30, 2010

This is just damn crazy, why change the whole system for only a few trains, and how do you know what type of train you are going to get??? Also why can't there be a gaurds compartment put in the middle like every other train on the system? Another sign that the governement is making stupid changes for no good reason

Comment 13 of 25

• Angry Posted at 8:56 AM September 30, 2010

Instead of a high visibility sign to be displayed to the guard at the end of the platform why don't they just give the disabled a sign saying rob me. It's obvious that when it comes to this government and their advisers that we need more chlorine in the gene pool.

Comment 14 of 25

• Mark of Sydney Posted at 9:00 AM September 30, 2010

Disgrace ! another reason this government will be gone by march nxt year

Comment 15 of 25

• KDR Posted at 9:01 AM September 30, 2010

What a load of C@#$ how much more obvious does it have to be that they require assistance. We not getting more accepting of people with disabilities we are just making it harder for them. Wake up.

Comment 16 of 25

• Honest Abe of Sydney Posted at 9:07 AM September 30, 2010

What about giving them a bell to ring and a yellow star to wear?

Comment 17 of 25

• Jane Tanner Posted at 9:09 AM September 30, 2010

What if you can't wave??F***Wits= Bureaucrats.Shame on you RailCorp!

Comment 18 of 25

• David Bunt of Castle Hill Posted at 9:12 AM September 30, 2010

The ramps are in the middle of the station! On all other trains(other than the new ONE the guard will be in the middle and the disabled passenger will be in the rear. What happens on a "bendy" platform? The guard will be unsighted. Whoever thought up this ridiculous idea - put them in a wheelchair for a day and have them travel under those conditions. The Premier said she was improving life for the disabled. Let's see some action!!!! Perhaps we'll take it to the Disablities Discrimination Council (I am wheelchair bound and use City Rail)

Comment 19 of 25

• Amanda Posted at 9:12 AM September 30, 2010

That is embarrassing! Once again bureaucrats making big decisions about groups of people, without first consulting those people that it will effect the most. Where will those people in wheelchairs get the High visibility cards? Will that get given one and be force to make sure that they are carrying it every time they catch a train?

Comment 20 of 25

• Belinda of Melbourne Posted at 9:12 AM September 30, 2010

What about building a shelter in the area they proposey they hold their sign that is for disabled passengers only, and there could be a button in their that would light up a light of a certain colour which would be visible to the guard on the train but not so embarrasing for the poor person in the wheelchair?

Comment 21 of 25

• T M of Ryde Posted at 9:17 AM September 30, 2010

As ridiculous and stupid this idea is, how is a person who can't move their arms supposed to "wave" the visibility card????

Comment 22 of 25

• KIRK of The OTH Posted at 9:17 AM September 30, 2010

oh how i love how caring we are as a society , NOT .

Comment 23 of 25

• HaveaChat of Northern Rivers Posted at 9:21 AM September 30, 2010

Typical of a government which is so out of touch with the population. People with disabilities are tolerated at best when it comes to accessing services such as public transport. In Canberra I recall having to tell the station staff(not conductors) in advance when those I supported needed a ramp.That entailed me finding staff and ensuring that the ramp was put in place. I don't envy wheelchair users who travel in dependently.

Comment 24 of 25

• Plettz Posted at 9:22 AM September 30, 2010

If CityRail had people called "station masters" and assistants at stations, there'd be no need for this. Lastly, I thought the Waratah trains had wheelchair spaces throughout each carriage. It's pretty useless if the disabled could only use the rear carriage...

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