Rail Special 2

LOCAL STATIONS NAMED AND SHAMED

27-08-2007

Three West Midlands rail stations have been "named and shamed" in a national survey aimed at encouraging more people to use public transport.

Smethwick Rolfe Street, Walsall and Bromsgrove station all came in for criticism from passengers who responded to a Transport 2000 study asking how the network could be improved.

Rolfe Street was nominated by Phil Crumpton, who said: "I am unable to use the station with my disabled wife because of inaccessibility issues; if only the masses of land was utilised to install a ramp onto the platforms. The money is there: it's a disgrace."

One passenger who's husband had his bike stolen at Walsall station complained about the uncaring attitude of staff: "The bike areas are serviced by CCTV but staff refused to view it citing that they do not review footage after eight hours.

"Seeing as the majority of people working a normal day will be leaving their bike there for over eight hours this makes the bike lock-up unusable."

Oh, and just for good measure: "The trains are constantly late and often a train will arrive and leave the station without opening the doors".

Bromsgrove station was roundly condemned for having no connecting buses, no safe cycle routes, and no signposts to the town and local facilities.

For those of us who remember John Prescott's pledge to deliver "an integrated transport network" in 1997, the survey's national findings will bring forward a hollow laugh.

Only 12% of those who took part I the survey though that bus timetables generally connected with their train timetable, and - echoing the Walsall experience - more than 60% felt it would be unsafe to leave their bike at a station.