Sinn Féin local election candidate, Natasha Warde, has said that the absence of a lift at Claremorris train station has left some passengers unable to disembark due to the overpass.
Warde said the issue was brought to her attention while canvassing by people who are unable to use the steps at the station because of immobility and by parents who have young families and find the steps dangerous as they are quite steep.
Citing an Oireachtas Report in February 2019, entitled – ‘Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities’, in which Minister Ross stated that, the Department was granted a trebling of the funding provided for the accessibility programme to almost €28 million euro for the period 2018- 2021, Warde highlighted the centrality of Claremorris and its importance for passengers, serving as the link for Westport and Ballina trains to Dublin.
She said: "With the increased funding from 2019, it is hoped that this will include the installation of a lift at Claremorris station to allow easy access across track platforms for wheelchair users, parents with young children and those who are immobile for whatever reason."
With a high level of train users at Claremorris station, Warde hopes that it will be part of a prioritised list of stations requiring this necessary investment for our passengers.
