RSA Interviews

The Good Journey Interviews

I have came up with 5 question so I can interview 2 selective person for my RSA project. The first interview will be carried out with a victim that travels by public transport on a daily bases and the other will be carried out on a staff at one of the train stations. 

Some of the question will be altered to interview each person to suit the needs of my project. 

1. How would you define a good journey?

Accessibility of the transport, on time departures, hassle free, reliable service, clean transportation, not over crowded, spacious, fresh air and seating available. 

2. What challenges do you face when travelling with a pram on the train?

There is only one carriage per train normally that has dedicated space for baby prams. On the door ways, I feel it is neither safe or practical for me to stand with a pram. Especially, during busy hours I feel I am looked at badly by other passengers. I also feel I am always on the way. The dedicated areas are often unclean and located next to toilet facilities which makes it very unhygienic. 

3. What challenges do you face on the station and the platforms?

Many stations still don't have lifts or ramps which makes it challenging travelling with a pram. I find myself often having to drag the pram up and down the stairs which is neither safe or enjoyable. I can't rely on station staff to help me carry the pram with me as I know some of them refuse. I also think the gap between the train and the platform is often dangerously wide. 

4. What would make your journey more enjoyable?

Improvement in accessibility, more room for prams and more seating for parents travelling with small children.

5. What changes would you like to see?

I would like to see every station to have a lift to and from platforms. I would also like to see old trains with high carriages disappear. It would be great to have more dedicated areas for parents with baby prams, maybe a dedicated carriage or a part of a carriage. At least they should move the dedicated area away from the toilets to make it more hygienic. 

Interview #2

This interview was carried out with one of the staff members at the Selhurst train station. 

1. What challenges do you face when having to assist someone travelling with a pram at the station?

I see a lot of mothers travelling with prams every day who struggle to make the stairs. It is a difficult situation as our training advices us not to help lifting buggies as it is not included in the health and safety. I personally help as I couldn't watch someone struggle an possibly putting themselves and the baby in danger. My main job is to assist passengers at the gates which means I might not be able to leave the area to assist someone on the stairs or platform. 

2. What are the main challenges parents travelling with prams face on platform and trains?

I think the main challenge at the stations is the lack of lift access. Parents have no choice but try to drag the pram up and down alone or wait for a kind fellow traveller to offer help. Big gaps between the train and the platform is also a big danger. Sometimes the gap is simply too big for a mother to get over without assistance. On the train the main  problem, I guess, is a lack of designated areas for parents travelling with prams. Especially during the rush hour the space can be very limited and cause raised eye brows amongst other commuters. 

3. How many prams would you say pass through the station when you are on your shift? 

Many, at least one comes through every 5 to 10 minutes. To give a daily estimate is impossible. 

4. What improvements would you say can be done to make travelling with a pram easier ?

In an ideal world it would be nice to see more lifts been built to stations. This would make it so much easier for travellers with special needs such as parents  travelling with babies and small children. I guess this would also make my job easier not having to face constant request for help. 

5. What help do you have available?  

None at the moment, sadly. For wheelchair users, we provide a service where they can ring up 24 hours in advance and advice us of their needs. However, this service doesn't apply to parents with buggies. I guess it should but maybe the demand would be too high and impossible to meet. During the London Olympics a lot of stations saw improvements take place, especially in the areas where there was the largest visitor concentration. However, Selhurst station wasn't one of them and as far as I know there is no plans to build lifts or travelators to this station. 

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