RBK rail

Hello, I type this as I am currently a wheelchair user, living in Surbiton, working in Kingston as a volunteer for KCIL (Kingston Centre for Independent Living).

I have developed a blog aimed at discussing relative transport issues.

http://kingstonactionontransport.blogspot.co.uk

I feel passionate about issues surrounding the use of public transport as a wheelchair user. Throughout my time in a rehab home, I learnt to travel on both trains and buses in my wheelchair. I currently feel confident in using both, where possible. The catch is, it is not always possible. I am a keen user of buses, if travelling locally. As a Surbiton resident, I am happy with using the train if going to central London. 20 minutes up to Waterloo? ‘Piece of cake’.

My one issue, is using the train on a more local scale. Ok, perhaps I am wiser using a bus anyway, for these trips. There are only two rail stations in the whole borough that, as a wheelchair user, I can use comfortably.

There are nine railway stations in the borough:

•                Berrylands, London Zone 5

•                Chessington North, London Zone 6

•                Chessington South, London Zone 6

•                Kingston, London Zone 6

•                Malden Manor, London Zone 4

•                New Malden, London Zone 4

•                Norbiton, London Zone 5

•                Surbiton, London Zone 6

•                Tolworth, London Zone 6

OK, the two, Kingston and Surbiton, are the biggest towns, offering the busiest services. These two stations are very good.

There is no linking train line between the two. Although this is perhaps advantageous (different train lines reach the borough), it does limit a wheelchair user to the use of a bus when travelling between the two. No real problem.

However this does mean that should a wheelchair user board the train at either Kingston, or Surbiton, they have to be leaving the borough. There are no two RBK, wheelchair accessible, rail stations, on the same train line. Wheelchair users always have to plan their route, informing accessible stations of arrival, so no problem again.

I study the map, disappointed that, geographically, the two stations are relatively close together. North (Kingston), and West (Surbiton) parts of RBK are accessible by train. East (New Malden), and South (Chessington) are the RBK areas inaccessible by wheelchair/train. Therefore, if one’s destination is in these areas, buses are the way forward.