Disabled activist's rail ordeal

Staff told Ms Bates to travel to Luton Airport and back

A wheelchair user faced an enforced 40-mile detour on her way to talk to transport leaders about making travel easier for the disabled.

Ann Bates, 50, a member of a rail watchdog, was sent on a two-hour round trip simply to change platforms.

A guard told Ms Bates she had to travel to Luton Airport and back to cross platforms at City Thameslink station in London.

An apologetic Thameslink spokesman described the advice as a "ludicrous moment of panic" by station staff.

We are deeply sorry for what has happened to Ann

Martin Walters, Thameslink

Ms Bates, a member of the Rail Passengers Council, set off from Worthing, West Sussex, for a meeting of the Strategic Rail Authority at the Department of Transport.

First she had to leave from West Worthing station rather than her local station because a new lift was flooded.

Then another broken lift meant she was unable to leave a northbound platform at City Thameslink to cross to a southbound platform.

Instead a staff member said she would have to travel to Luton Airport and change platforms there before travelling back again.

'Human failing'

Thameslink spokesman Martin Walters said: "I can only put this down to a human failing. It was a ludicrous thing to do.

"We are deeply sorry for what has happened to Ann, who we know well and who does a lot of work for us.

"We are trying to find out who spoke to her and then we will take action."

Ms Bates said: "All it takes for disabled passengers is one journey to go wrong and they will never attempt it again.

"Most stations are still set up as they were in Victorian times, something which has never been tackled."