Oldham MP says disabled people are being forced off railways

Greenfield station’s Huddersfield-bound platform is only accessible by using a footbridge, which requires climbing and descending 24 steps on each side.

The Greenfield Rail Action Group has called for a footpath down to the Huddersfield platform from Oldham Road to be restored.

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, says Government plans to ‘modernise the railways’ will mean many disabled people will be further excluded from using their local train services.

ALSO READ: Oldham railway station to be without trains for 40 days.

Joining campaigners from Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) at Downing Street, to hand in a petition signed by over 160 organisations representing disabled people, the Labour MP called on the Government to rethink plans to reorganise staffing levels.

Ms Abrahams said: “The Government’s plans to ‘modernise the railways’ as they put it, is a real issue for many disabled people and will detrimentally affect their ability to live full and independent lives.

“We have an example of how disabled people are already marginalised on our own doorstep at Greenfield station, where the only way to get from one platform to another is via a bridge with steps. 

Crossing platforms means climbing stairs at Greenfield station (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

“In addition to the current physical access issues, the Government’s plans to take guards off the trains, take staff out of ticket offices, and reduce the hours that certain stations are staffed, will only exacerbate the situation for disabled people.

“The UK is a signatory of the UN Convention on the rights of disabled people and accessibility is one of those rights, but, as a country, we just aren't we delivering on it.

"All the evidence shows that disabled people are already excluded from society, they already use public transport a lot less and, in this day and age, we really need to make sure that disabled people are able to live a full and inclusive life.” 

Greenfield station inaccessible

Greenfield is one of two rail stations to serve the borough, with much of the borough disconnected from the National Rail network back in 2009, before being connected to the Metrolink system a few years later.

Mills Hill station, serving Chadderton, had a lift installed in 2021 to make the station fully step-free.

Unlike the rail network, Manchester Metrolink is 100 per cent accessible – with all platforms having either a ramp or lift for step-free access.

A lift was installed at Mills Hill station

David Wheeler, aged 59, lives in Greenfield and has been using the station for 20 years.

A local campaigner with the Greenfield Station Rail Action Group, David has only seen the number of passengers increase.

Dave said: “20 years ago there used to be about six of us on the 06:50, the station now is very well-used.

“Because it’s so well-used, the services need to reflect that demand.”

As part of the campaign group, David has been trying to get step-free access put in on the Huddersfield-bound platform.

David said: “We’ve been asking for disabled access at Greenfield for some considerable time, but I don’t really see any movement on that until the footbridge and the road bridge are redesigned.

“My point has always been to reopen the footpath from the Huddersfield-bound platform to Oldham Road. The footpath is still there, it’s just fallen into disrepair so that nobody can use it now.

“It would be at less cost than putting a lift in place.”

Old foot path between Oldham Road and Greenfield station (Image: David Wheeler)

Abrahams' support a 'great boost'

Helen Rowlands, representing the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, said: “It was a great boost for our rail access campaign to have Debbie Abrahams accompany us into Downing St on Monday 20 February. 

“Debbie is much respected for her parliamentary work in support of disabled people's rights and with her help we hope a parliamentary debate on the crisis of rail inaccessibility will soon be taking place. 

“Our message to the Prime Minister is very simple: he must act urgently to protect disabled passengers access rights by preventing the rail operator plans to shut our ticket offices, destaffed stations and remove guards from trains.”