I knew parking the train there at Hexham would make it difficult and dangerous to get on in my wheelchair, NORTHERN 🚆 Needing a 90 degree turn onto a steep ramp with degraded anti-slip And yep, was very difficult.

@northernassist if it’s too steep no doubt the guard could’ve gave you a hand, you’ve got a good enough tongue on that mouth to ask

@northernassist And as you will have noted if you watched the video, he did indeed and I thanked him.

@northernassist Why didn’t @northernassist move the train ?

@northernassist You can blame network rail for not providing stop boards at the appropriate places so that drivers know exactly where to stop their trains.

@lucyllewy @northernassist Looks like they need a new ramp.

@northernassist @Class156 The stop board on this platform needs moving well clear of footbridge stairs - surely this shouldn't need endless committee meetings & ORR sign off!

@flowergirl_lon @northernassist The longer we take to board and the more fuss we make about the ‘turning circle’ (which they have often never heard of) (in my case I usually comment on my jet pack) the more we add to their ‘dwell time’ and that costs them money!

@northernassist Get over yourself

Hello Doug, I am sorry to see this happened, what service was it please?

1103 Hexham to Newcastle this morning

Thank you so much for confirming, we will have this looked into, if you would like to take this further please go to

@northernassist I think you handled that wheely well.

@northernassist :-)

@northernassist Why don't they just move the train a carriage length forwards?

@northernassist Omg. I genuinely feel scared just looking at the setup

@northernassist That's appalling! Was there another accessible carriage they could have arranged for you to be on? Hope this doesn't happen to you or anyone else at that station again

@northernassist That's awful something needs to be done @northernassist when was the last disabled access check made for this playform

@northernassist Incredible that we can find £100 billion for the HS2 farce, yet in this day and age we can’t manage to have level boarding everywhere

@northernassist Nice work by the Northern Guard he’s a credit to the company.

@northernassist Well done. But also 🤦 . at Guildford Saturday. Platform has place where wheelchairs and assistance staff wait. Train pulls in. Carriage ramp is placed at (presumably accessible carriage) is 2 carriages further down the platform. Quite a long way down.

@northernassist If the ramp absolutely had to be deployed there, and the train can't be moved, what if you line up with the door first, then they do the ramp? Then it's not blocking your turning. Pardon my intrusion if this is a silly suggestion.

@northernassist Is this common on stations?

@northernassist Relatively, in my experience.

@northernassist Had a similar at Halifax. Train stopped, door facing station building, very tight, slippery ramp, footplate scrapesd wall to get off & turn. Couple of days later legrests actuator burned out - major internal damage. Can't prove it's from this, but £500+ for part alone.

@northernassist They should design better wheelchairs.