Overview

Despite significant ‘improvements’ to Needham Market Railway Station in recent years (costing over £700,000) access to the Ipswich-bound platform remains by steep underground stairway only – a physical challenge for passengers with limited mobility, with buggies, bikes, or heavy suitcases, and an impossibility for wheelchair users. Additionally, the new ramp from the car park to the Cambridge-bound platform is well above the maximum 1 in 12 gradient required to comply with Building Regulations, creating further significant problems for wheel chair users. Needham Market is a growing town with large new estates planned for hundreds of homes over the next few years. Abellio East Anglia Limited (trading as Greater Anglia) claims to be committed to complying with its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and pledges to make its services accessible to all. Abellio has a ten year contract to run our trains and stations and so has no excuse not to make full access an urgent priority. We do have a petition running, the local petition (nearly 1500 signatures April 2018) to achieve an alternative to the 49 steep steps to access or disembark from the Ipswich-bound platform. Currently wheelchair users, and many others with limited mobility, travelling with buggies, toddlers, heavy luggage or bicycles, are unable to use our train station; it is also restricting economic development in this fast-growing area. Our campaign has been busy: Ongoing coverage in local newspapers and Radio Suffolk Meetings with Council and Railway officials and support of local organisations, businesses, and Councils at Town, District and County level Support of national organisations such as Campaign for Better Transport In March 2018 we met with Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, together with MP Jo Churchill – both are now aware of our station’s exceptionally poor access facilities and of our campaign to improve this. It is likely Government will be considering new funding in late 2018 – this will be a national ‘pot’ and competition will be fierce. We need as much evidence of local support as possible to increase our chance of a Government grant – our goal is AT LEAST 2000 signatures. PLEASE HELP US BY SHARING THIS PETITION AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SIGN. https://www.tinyurl.com/needhamstation AND CAN ‘LIKE’ AND ‘FOLLOW’ OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER PROFILES: @NMAccessforAll ~ THANK YOU ~

Transport & Parking

A disabled parking bay by the main entrance is the stations only asset, however others being without paving to allow access to the station you are forced to run the gauntlet of a busy parking lot with all the cars - the same problem faced by those with prams and young children etc and I wouldn't recommend for those with visual impairments - especially as the singular path running adjacent but not direct to the station has no bollards meaning other road users frequently park too close to the wall/shops further blocking access Transport however, well, a train station where half the station is a struggle to access, the other an impossibility to others.... not great.

Access

No lift, limited seating only available once up a steep ramp, inadequate signage (as you're likely to find at most train stations) and as mentioned in parking which prevents access by path meaning you're left to share a busy narrow road with all the cars.

Toilets

There isn't one.

Staff

Non-existent.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Well, considering it's a near daily experience if I wish to use a train as has been since I moved to the town in 2013, not a pleasant one. Especially as the first time I used the station I was not aware about the stepped underpass - arrived on the last train of the day, no staff or anyone around to help, ended up sliding down and dragging myself up the staircases dragging my wheelchair behind me. Please, if you haven't already, sign and share the petition: https://www.tinyurl.com/needhamstation

Photos