Can't Get Help from Transport for all

I have been emailing transport for all, they will not help, although their slogan is.

I sent them an email outlining our campaign, and saying that it should be possible to get on and off the platform and the train without help. (These are only a fraction of the content of the emails). I must also appologies for the rambling text below, but this is what we are dealing with when asking for help.

Their Reply:

Thanks for sending this on. Forgive my ignorance but where has it been accepted that ‘accessible’ means ‘without help’ by the DfT and/or others? Have I missed this?

This was my Reply:

This is my interpretation of access for all, if somebody who doesn't have to ask for help can get on and off a train, then why should I have to ask for help. I also think it is demeaning and discrimination, if I need to ask for help.

Their Reply:

I’m not sure that I agree that this a reasonable interpretation of accessible. Ideal, yes, but not necessarily a real prospect for myriad reasons and also not true for many non-disabled people. So, while of course we support your efforts to push for more step-free access, I would need to understand the drivers, research, plans and strategy to be able to endorse and support the campaign.

My Reply:

I realise that my idea of accessible, is not strictly what we have come to expect, but I don't see why this should be a hurdle, things can and do change, the technology is available to do this and I want to keep my independence as long as I can.

They went on to say that a talk on the phone would be a good idea, that was on 31/10/2019. This never materialised, so I replied again:

That sounds good to me, if you can help, please do, I have only been on this path for 3 months and have learnt a lot so far, but I realise there is a lot more to learn.

I am not on my own now, as other campaigns are joining us.

Their Reply

Brilliant. Let’s have a chat maybe tomorrow?

On the 7th November I sent:

I assume that you don't want to talk, No problem, you’re not the only one, everybody seems to be ignoring this.

Their Reply

My apologies, I missed our call last week but I have been very busy. I appreciate your efforts but I think we are looking to support campaigns that have clear, achievable goals and as the charity has a skeleton staff at the moment I have to be very focused with where we put our resources and this campaign isn’t quite in line with our current planning. I support the spirit of your work, of course, but there are a number of other campaigns (either live or in planning) that we are working with so we have little scope at the moment.

My Reply and final email:

I am a bit perplexed, why you don't think, we don't have clear and achievable goals.

Step Free Access at all stations and on all trains, is achievable, as it is already being offered at some stations, London Bridge for one, so this is achievable, if Network Rail and the Government can do it at 200 or so stations, then they can do it at all.

I do however realise that you have limited resources, which is a more credible reason.

Not to worry, as soon as I get a Judicial Review on this, then we will see if it is achievable.

This is what I am dealing with an a regular basis.

Very Frustrating