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| The Fat Controller at Market Rasen. There are lovely wood carvings all around Market Rasen |
I had a trip out today - to Edinburgh. Theaa.com tells me that is a round trip of 540 miles by road but I went by rail. I thought you might like to see the Fat Controller who waved me off at Market Rasen.
First I travelled on a little cross country train to Newark where I had assistance booked and assistance was there waiting. A kind lady helped me down from the train and escorted me through the station. Just as hoped for.
It was at Edinburgh that the service began to get excellent. A helpful man came on board to help me off and offered to get a wheelchair if I would like. No, I wouldn't like, just point me in the direction of the first class lounge. I staggered there slowly and had a cup of coffee and a little something. When I emerged the lovely assistant was waiting and again he offered a wheelchair. This time I accepted gratefully. What I appreciated was the fact that he offered but was quite willing for me to refuse. He just wanted me to be comfortable. I've never accepted a wheelchair ride before - I can be quite fiercely independent - but this thoughtful man gave the impression that, it wasn't just his job to offer help, it was his privilege and his pleasure to make my journey pleasurable. Thank you, kind sir.
For various reasons my train back to Newark was delayed and I was worried that I would miss my connection back to Market Rasen and would have to wait three hours for the next one. However the staff at Newark were brilliant! They knew they had to transfer a person with disabilities to the Rasen train so they kept it back. The train staff and the station staff all helped with a really quick and easy transfer, keeping me laughing all the way so once again I didn't feel that I was a problem.
Thank you, one and all.
So glad that everyone did their job and that you had such a wonderful time. I take the train often and while I can manage most things, a bit of assistance is appreciated. I can board first and they hand my case up to me. The new cars have overhead bins like planes but I was told to just leave my case with the train crews items and then everything handed down to me. I was asked if I needed the elevator brought down but I was fine on he escalator. As you say, not always needed, but always appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhen I left to come home a woman in a wheelchair was coming off the train and we were all asked to just wait while they brought the lift and assisted her. It was all done very efficiently and she had a escort all the way - the conductor scanned all our tickets while we waited and then boarded everyone very efficiently.
I too have had assistance on train travel and found it very reassuring.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice trip. Were you there for the day only?
ReplyDeleteI was there for just an hour! It is the journey which matters to me as this is such a lovely line. Sadly I can't take my mobility scooter on the train so doing much "at the other end" isn't a possibility. (Wheelchairs can be taken on trains, mobility scooters can't.)
DeleteEveryone deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity, and the fact that supporting folks with disabilities to engage in life as anyone else is just a given,makes me smile.
ReplyDeletesounds like a lovely trip and I am so glad you were treated well and had such exemplary assistance
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments. I've used assistance many times but yesterday the assistance was stunning. I can feel a letter to management coming on!
ReplyDeleteJust as it should be, I have yet to use the train with a wheelchair but I find this post reassuring.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to hear something good about the railways, I'm glad they made your journey easier and more enjoyable. The Fat Controller is a 'new' addition at Market Rasen, but I must admit I haven't used the station for over five years now!
ReplyDeleteI think you must have missed him when you were there as he's been there for quite a while. He's on the approach road.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great day out. So pleased to hear that the assistance worked. I love the little Fat Controller:-)
ReplyDeletePleased you had a good journey, Mary. Did you go first class? Sounds as if everyone contributed to a first class day out. See you Friday Mx
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed first class in every sense of the term! Looking forward to Friday.
DeleteNow that is really, really lovely!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt warms my heart, to read such!!!!
Oh, and btw, when I first popped into this post, my first thought was, that gentleman, in the picture, is made of _chocolate_!!! ,-))))