Isaac Harvey MBE, a disability advocate, faced significant challenges during a recent train
journey from London to Cambridge, highlighting the urgent need for improved accessibility
provisions in public transportation. His experience sheds light on the obstacles that
individuals with disabilities encounter and emphasises the importance of making
transportation inclusive for everyone. As NDIS providers on the Gold Coast, we cannot agree
more with this.
On Saturday, Mr. Harvey embarked on a journey to Cambridge, intending to attend a party.
However, his plans were derailed due to issues that arose during his travel. The initial
challenge occurred when he couldn’t exit the train at Cambridge Station because there was
no ramp available for his electric wheelchair. This set off a chain of accessibility issues that
marred his entire journey.
The situation worsened when a broken lift at Cambridge Station prevented Mr Harvey from
reaching the exit. He and another wheelchair user were advised to travel to Ely, where an
accessible taxi was supposed to be waiting for them. Unfortunately, upon reaching Ely, no
taxi was available. Instead, they were instructed to return to Cambridge on a different train,
rerouted to an accessible platform, more than two hours after their original arrival.
Frustrations continued as Greater Anglia staff informed Mr Harvey and his travel
companion, Laura Mathias, that an accessible taxi in Cambridge might not be available for
over an hour. There was also no guarantee that the taxi would return them to the station in
time for the last train to London. Faced with uncertainty and unwilling to risk further
complications, they made the difficult decision to abandon their plans and return home.
Mr. Harvey’s journey, which was supposed to be a joyful occasion, turned into a fruitless
nine-hour round trip. Despite his calm demeanour in handling such situations, he expressed
his disappointment, stating that such incidents should not occur in this day and age. He
pointed out that accessibility is not just for individuals with disabilities but is essential for
everyone, as anyone can acquire a disability at any given time, whether short or long-term.
During the ordeal, Mr. Harvey discovered that the lift at Cambridge Station was frequently
out of order, showcasing the significant impact a single accessibility issue can have on the
entire transportation experience. He urged for more proactive measures to ensure that
transportation is accessible to all individuals, emphasising the need for improvements in the
system.
Ms Mathias, a diversity campaigner who accompanied Mr Harvey, described the experience
as eye-opening and highlighted that the issues faced were indicative of a broken system.
While acknowledging the efforts of staff and taxi drivers, she emphasised the systemic
errors that contribute to a negative reputation and cause people with disabilities to give up
on utilising public transportation.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Greater Anglia issued an apology and
announced a full investigation into the matter. They expressed the intent to contact Mr.
Harvey to offer a formal apology and pledged to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in
the future.
Isaac Harvey’s journey underscores the critical need for comprehensive improvements in
accessibility provisions within public transportation systems. His call for inclusivity and
systemic changes resonates not only with the disabled community but with anyone who
recognises the importance of creating a transportation environment that serves everyone,
regardless of their abilities.