MERSEYRAIL Electrics has come under fire from a disabled Wirral woman who says that she is not allowed to take her wheelchair onto the train, writes Steven Hallmark.

Maureen Radley, from Eastham, travelled to Eastham Rake station for a trip to Birkenhead only to find she was not going to be allowed onto the train. She was told that her new three-wheel wheelchair was not suitable.

Said Maureen: "When I realised I couldn't go on the train I just cried. The wheelchair cost £2,000 and I only bought it three weeks ago. I can use it on a bus, it can be packed away in a car, my friend even travelled to America on a plane with the same sort, but I was just not allowed on a train.

"It's such a modern station as well."

A spokesperson for Merseyrail Electrics said that three-wheeled wheelchairs were regarded as scooters. "In line with other train operators, Merseyrail Electrics abides by the recommendations of the Department of Transport Mobility Unit with respect to motorised scooters and wheelchairs on the network's trains," she said.

"These prevent us from carrying motorised scooters on our trains because of their instability."

The spokesperson went on to say that there were also limits on the size of vehicles that could be taken on board trains.

She also pointed out that Merseyrail had been nominated for an award for its efforts to allow disabled people access to its services.

Said Mrs Radley: "This chair is actually two inches narrower than my last four-wheel chair, which was allowed on the train. It does not take up any more space.

"The staff are very helpful but Merseyrail's service to the disabled is rubbish. They should not be getting a national award."

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