Rail passengers who need step free access at Dore and Totley Railway station are urged to book passenger assistance if travelling to or from the station during the period from the 25th March to 4th April 2024. This is because the new lifts will not be fully working for some, or all of this period.
On the 25th of March the layout of Dore and Totley station is due to change opening up a second platform. Though the station has lifts to access the footbridge these are now unlikely to be available for passengers when the station opens on the 25th of March. The Department for Transport has provided a dispensation to allow Network Rail to open the station without step-free access. A summary from the railway industry states:
“Due to delays in bringing lifts into service there is no step free access to Platform 1 (trains to Manchester and Liverpool) at Dore & Totley Station from 25th March 2024 until 4th April 2024 – If you need step free access please contact Passenger Assist to arrange alternative transport 0800 138 5560 text relay 18001 0800 138 5560. Step free access to Platform 2 (trains to Sheffield, Chesterfield and Norwich) remains available as lifts are not required for level access.”
Whilst Disability Sheffield and Sheffield Transport 4 All fully support disabled peoples’ right to Turn Up and Go travel and assistance on this occasion we hope that by booking passenger assistance beforehand during this period should ensure you have a smoother journey with alternative transport pre-arranged. We would expect all train operators using the station to be aware of the status of the lifts on any given day and proactively contact you the day before if any changes or alternative transport is required for your journey.
If alternative arrangements significantly add to your journey time compared with other passengers then please make this clear to the train company you are travelling with before and after your journey as well as getting in touch with us. Sheffield Transport 4 All also stated:
“We believe that those disabled passenger’s needs that have been sacrificed to open the station on time should not be out of pocket as well as time because this is very different to a temporary breakdown and usual compensation arrangements. In particular train companies will no doubt seek money back from Network Rail if they incur extra costs and it is only fair that negatively impacted passengers are not neglected in this process.”
