Lauren West

Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, Disability Activist, Hot Chocolate Addict, Gilmore Girls Lover. All views my own!

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@flowergirl_lon I received a letter and I certainly did not receive £1200 compensation, just a few rail vouchers as "a token for the inconvenience".

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

.@Se_Railway passenger assistance fail at Kidbrooke this morning. No assistance staff turned up despite pre-booking and no ticket office staff either!

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@BritRailTog They did. They sent me a letter which was unexpected.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

Well it's been more than 10 working days since my formal complaint went and I've heard nothing... @SteveWhiteRail

[Southeastern @Se_Railway]

@LEJWest Thank you, I have raised this with the team, under reference number SE3111286. They aim to respond within 10 working days, but very often sooner. Once again I can only apologise for the failed assistance, and the disruption this has caused to your day. ^SK

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@Se_Railway yes sure

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@flowergirl_lon @Se_Railway Thank you @flowergirl_lon. @Se_Railway I've sent you my email address for the formal complaint as well as compensation. The failure had a significant impact on my working day.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@martynsibley Please make sure you emphasise the need for need for a hoist in the bathroom. So many just put it over the bed and think that works for everyone.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@jam21t @RachelCurtis82 @JeremyVineOn5 Motability cars don’t just go to disabled people who don’t work. To get a Motability car, you need to get PIP or DLA. Both of these benefits are not related to work at all.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@GWRHelp @WestMidRailway I will but all this should be known to you as there were multiple calls to the passenger assistance line.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

.@GWRHelp @WestMidRailway can you explain why you think it’s okay to leave a wheelchair user stranded at Worcester Shrub Hill station yesterday because there were no staff to unlock the lifts to platform 2 despite assistance being booked?

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@WestMidRailway @GWRHelp This was entering the station. I had booked assistance on the London Paddington train which departs platform 2. You enter on platform 1 and are faced with a lift that can only be operated with staff assistance.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

Why did no one ring me back to check I was okay and managed to travel?

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

Why are you locking lifts if your station can be unmanned?

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

Bringing in the year with Auld Lang Syne by @GrantLeeTweets again. Maybe 2024 will be the year I get to see him live after a disastrous 2023?!

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

Absolutely gutted. After train strikes, snow and who knows what else last year which cancelled my multiple bookings, I finally had tickets to see @GrantLeeTweets at @pizzajazzclub tonight. Now told the lift is out so I can’t go. Please come back to the UK ASAP 🤞

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@malcolmsevenoa4 @premierinn I was so annoyed that the new Hotel Brooklyn chain which claims to be the most accessible only put hoists in the bedroom not the bathroom 🤦🏼‍♀️ according to them everyone can use the shower chair they provide…

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@Doug_Paulley @TfL @TfLAccess It’s level access at Paddington, just make sure you board in the middle of the platform at Euston Square. I realise this advice is too late but hopefully helpful in the future. Euston Sq isn’t classed as accessible so don’t have any staff.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@Se_Railway That’s correct. The ticket office staff did it and said she also did it yesterday as the same happened to someone else.

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

.@Se_Railway your roaming mobility team didn’t turn up at Kidbrooke this morning. Lovely ticket office staff member got me on the train. Apparently this happened to someone else yesterday. What will happen when you close the ticket office?

[Lauren West @LEJWest]

@Se_Railway It was pre booked