On the wrong line

However, the injustice suffered by nurse Karen Redmile and other disabled users of Thorne North station is clearly in a different league.

One can only imagine the fury and frustration she must feel on arriving at her home town station after a day spent in public service, only to be told she must stay on the train for an extra hour in order to get to the other side of the platform.

What an utterly inadequate response from Northern Rail and Network Rail, whose responsibility it is to see Ms Redmile to her destination – regardless of which platform she uses.

No-one is suggesting that every public building will ever offer perfect disabled access – but where they cannot, people must be properly accommodated. In this case, it is clear that a staff member is required to help people like Ms Redmile across the tracks – and at whatever cost to the companies concerned. They must do better.