Terry Ward
Updated on: October 9, 2024 11:30 am GMT
Disability Activist Denied Boarding Eurostar Despite Wheelchair Ticket
A distressing incident involving a disabled traveler highlights ongoing accessibility issues within the Eurostar service. Sam Jennings, a 46-year-old disability activist from Streatham, London, claims she was denied boarding an Eurostar train in Paris due to a missing ramp booking, despite holding a ticket for a wheelchair space. This stressful situation comes amidst the backdrop of the Paralympic Games being held nearby, raising questions about the treatment of disabled travelers by service providers.
Incident at Gare du Nord
On the day of her trip, Jennings arrived at Gare du Nord station only to be met with confusion and frustration from staff. After waiting in line to check in, she was informed that she needed to book a ramp—an additional step she was not made aware of despite confirming her travel arrangements earlier that day. “They watched me queue to check in, then turned me round when I got to the front and sent me away to the office,” Jennings recounted. After tweeting Eurostar about her situation, a ramp was made available, but not without significant emotional distress.
A Systemic Issue?
Jennings described the incident as “infuriating” and part of a larger pattern of accessibility failures she has encountered in her travels. She has reported experiencing over 30 “zero access fails,” which include being left stranded on trains and staff refusing assistance with ramps. Her plight has brought attention to the broader systemic issues affecting disabled travelers, especially in major transport hubs.
According to Jennings, this lack of support is in stark contrast to Eurostar’s public image, which promotes its commitment to supporting disabled athletes during the Paralympics. “They’re celebrating the achievements of disabled people in sport but for disabled fans… the reality is indifference,” she stated, emphasizing the inconsistency between rhetoric and reality.
Eurostar’s Response
Following the incident, Eurostar issued an apology, acknowledging that Jennings’ ramp requirement had been overlooked. A spokesperson explained that human error was to blame, and such bookings should automatically occur when a wheelchair space is reserved. “Rest assured that when a passenger books a wheelchair space on our London routes, the ramp is automatically reserved. On this occasion, we acknowledge this is an error on our part,” the representative stated.
In response to the growing concern over accessibility, Eurostar has begun efforts to improve their systems and prevent such oversights in the future.
Experiencing Indifference in Paris
Jennings’ frustration extended beyond her Eurostar experience. After arriving in Paris for the Paralympics, she found the city’s transport infrastructure equally inaccessible. Despite having tickets to several events, she was unable to use accessible transport options due to restrictive booking policies. “I wasn’t allowed to get accessible transport for the events I had tickets for,” she explained, pointing to a negative impact on her overall experience of the Paralympics.
She criticized the city’s planning, stating that although there were provisions for accessible transport, they often required advance booking, leaving many travelers stranded when they arrived without proper arrangements—especially problematic during high-profile events like the marathon.
Looking Ahead
The experiences of Jennings underscore the challenges that often accompany the promise of accessibility in travel. With the Eurostar incident as a case study, there is a growing call for improved systems and practices that truly accommodate the needs of disabled travelers to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As policies evolve and companies seek to foster inclusivity, travelers like Jennings hope for a change in how their needs are met, viewing accessibility not as an additional task to remember but as an integral part of any travel experience.
For those interested in learning more about travel accessibility or sharing similar experiences, resources are available at Disability Rights UK and Transport for All, which advocate for the rights and needs of disabled travelers across the UK.
This event reminds us that making places accessible isn’t just about adding ramps or elevators. It takes effort, knowledge, and a real understanding of what different travelers need.
