Ashtonfield mother-of-four Race Barstow says using Victoria Street train station is nigh on impossible for many people.
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And there are no plans in the pipeline to improve access.
The station is a short distance from the Lawes Street shopping precinct that includes doctors and pharmacies among other services but rail users must first negotiate the steps.
Since the birth of her son Benjamin Weston, aged seven weeks, Ms Barstow said the stairs were difficult to negotiate, so she prefers to drive to Metford station and catch the train to East Maitland to carry out any errands.
“Now I’ve got the newbie, and the pram, I can’t use it here,” Ms Barstow said.
“It restricts where we can go and what we can do.”
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison said a lift was frequently identified as a priority for rail users in the area.
“I have had so many people, when doorknocking, that raise this as their first issue,” she said.
“As Race said, it is the easiest station to access Lawes Street.”
Any upgrade to the platform would come from the $770 million Transport Access Program.
“Customers in the Hunter are benefiting from the program, with improvements complete or under way at Singleton, Scone, Dungog, Adamstown, Aberdeen, Cardiff and Newcastle stations,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
“Work under the Transport Access Program is determined using evidence-based criteria, including current and future patronage, the needs and demographics of customers, and whether important services such as hospitals or educational facilities are nearby.
“Victoria Street will be considered for future upgrades as part of this program.”
Daphne Unicomb used to catch the train to Newcastle until her mobility decreased.
The 85-year-old uses a walker to get around East Maitland Lodge and is confined to the wheelchair on outings.
“I would still be able to go out for the day if there was an elevator [at the station],” she said.
An error on the Plan My Trip website provided
visitors to Victoria Street station the wrong information with the potential to leave people with mobility difficulties stranded on the platform.
The online service failed to inform people who ticked the wheelchair box that the station was incompatible with their needs. People were only aware if they looked up the station page.
“It would be a pretty rude shock for people who get off here,” opposition spokeswoman for transport Penny Sharpe said.
“The first thing obviously with this is to ensure that the information provided to commuters is correct.
“But obviously the bigger issue is accessibility of stations.”
The error was corrected yesterday afternoon.
“Transport for NSW apologises to [any] customer for the incorrect information shown on the TransportNSW.info trip planner and has corrected the information,” a spokesman said.
NSW TrainLink customers can also consult the station map that shows all stations and indicates which are accessible at www.transportnsw.info/resources/documents/intercity-trains-network-map.pdf