Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will raise with Network Rail the provision made for disabled passengers at Euston station and, in particular (1) the distance between the holding facility for disabled passengers and parking place for the buggies for passengers who are unable to walk, (2) removing the steel bars recently installed on either side of the rear seats of these buggies, (3) the availability of assistants with wheelchairs at the passenger drop off point to take disabled passengers to the holding facility, (4) repair of the phone at the disabled passenger drop-off point, and (5) direct access to Platform 1 for the disabled buggy.

The Passenger Assistance lounge at Euston station, which is usually staffed with at least three assistants, is equipped with six wheelchairs to help passengers from the drop-off point at the taxi-rank to the lounge. Passengers who have pre-booked their assistance can be met at the drop-off point by staff with a wheelchair. If a passenger hasn’t pre-booked, they can contact the passenger assistance lounge using the help point at the taxi rank and be collected. The help point at the taxi-rank is fully operational.

The distance from the Passenger Assistance lounge to the parked buggies at Euston Station is around 15 metres. To help passengers from the lounge to the buggies, Network Rail can provide passengers with wheelchairs, or take them by the arm for support, depending on their needs. In some cases, when the station is quiet, staff can drive the buggy to the entrance of the Passenger Assistance lounge to make this journey shorter.

The buggies have barriers by the rear seats for the safety of riding passengers, reducing the risk of passengers falling.

For the safety of passengers, buggy drivers are instructed to take passengers under the concourse to services on platforms 1 and 2. This is to reduce the amount of congestion on the concourse where passengers are waiting, departing or arriving.