Abdul Eneser, 23, dragged himself back onto the platform moments before a non-stop freight train came hurtling through
Abdul Eneser at Piccadilly train station(Image: )
A blind student who fell onto tracks at Manchester Piccadilly railway station has reached an £18,000 settlement with Network Rail, following allegations over assistance for disabled passengers.
Abdul Eneser, 23, could hear the rumbling of the approaching non-stop freight train as he dragged himself back onto the platform, just 60 seconds before it hurtled though platform 14. A masters law student at the University of Strathclyde, he had fallen onto the tracks after Passenger Assist failed to meet him from his train and help him through the station after a train delay, it has been claimed.
He alleged the lack of tactile paving near to the platform edge meant he was unaware how close he was to the tracks. He brought a claim against Network Rail, which did not admit liability.
However, the body has apologised ‘unreservedly’ and has reached a financial settlement to end the case, believed to be £18,000.
Abdul suffered injuries to his knees, hands and neck in the fall on May 21, 2022, and only managed to pull himself back on to the platform moments before a non-stop freight train passed through the station on the same track.
Abdul Eneser explains what happened to him at Manchester Piccadilly
He told the Manchester Evening News he continues to suffer anxiety when travelling.
Prior to the incident, Abdul booked Passenger Assist, a service available across England to support people with disabilities and reduced mobility to navigate stations, and board or leave a train.
He was assisted boarding his train at Glasgow and then again to a connecting service at Preston, where he says he was told a message would be radioed to Piccadilly including his seat number so he could be assisted once he arrived at his destination.
Abdul Eneser(Image: )
But when Abdul arrived at platform 14 at Piccadilly after midnight, no one from Passenger Assist was there to support him. He was later told that they had all gone home. He fell as he tried to find the steps to leave the station from platform 14.
His lawyers brought a claim to court against Network Rail and the train operators for ‘failing to install tactile paving at the station, or implement other warnings such as audio announcements, or ensure the presence of station staff’ to protect him.
Network Rail had breached its duties under the 2010 Equality Act and the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, and were negligent, according to his legal representatives.Under the Equality Act, Abdul argued that Network Rail had failed to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that passengers with disabilities, such as visual impairments, were not at a disadvantage by the physical features of the station, including the lack of tactile paving. Abdul also sought remedial action as part of his legal claim, including the installation of tactile paving.
The court approved a consent order providing a settlement sum to Abdul, according to his lawyers.
Abdul said: “This case is about much more than compensation. Poor accessibility in rail travel is not just a one-off issue. This is something that prevents myself and others with visual impairments from travelling with confidence.
“I’m not always sure that I’ll be met with the right level of support to complete my journeys. At the best of times, it makes travel stressful, and in the worst-case scenario it can be really dangerous.”
Abdul Eneser(Image: )
His lawyer Kate Egerton, of Leigh Day solicitors, said: “Ensuring that stations are accessible for blind and visually impaired people is crucial to ensuring they can travel safely on an equal basis to fully sighted passengers. “Network Rail and train operators have a clear obligation to ensure that train stations are accessible for all. Not only is it distressing for passengers with visual impairments to try to navigate inaccessible platforms and services, it is also extremely dangerous. “Whilst I am pleased that we were able to secure this settlement for Abdul, his case and continued experiences highlight wider accessibility issues across the rail network that need to be addressed.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are extremely sorry for the experience Abdul Eneser suffered at Manchester Piccadilly. We let him down and have offered him our full and unreserved apology. We recognise that there is much to do to make the railway more accessible for all and are working closely with industry partners to deliver these improvements across the rail network as quickly as we can.”