A VETERAN campaigner has called for an end to the bitter rail dispute which she says is ruining the lives of many disabled customers.

Shirley McCall - who chairs the Eastbourne Disability Involvement Group - believes the railways are a lifeline to people like her who are confined to living in a wheelchair.

She has echoed recent comments made in Parliament by Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, who told MPs that disabled rail users are often left in the dark when train services are cancelled, delayed, or altered with little notice.

Ms McCall, 82, who has multiple sclerosis, said: "I feel so desperately sorry for all the able-bodied customers whose lives are being disrupted by the current strike action, especially those who have to travel to work ever day.

"For the disabled it simply means that we cannot plan ahead and, believe me, that can be very isolating. You can feel absolutely helpless.

"It makes you think twice about even travelling because there is that worry that you won't make it, that you will get stuck at a venue and be unable to make it back home.

"It can be very distressing. It's that gut feeling you might not reach where you want to go."

Ms McCall normally alerts railway staff 48 hours in advance of making a journey so that workers on duty can provide a ramp to get her on or off the train.

She said: "Most staff who help me are very, very kind, and I always thank them for their support but, of course, on strike days I can never be sure that someone will be able to help me so I stay at home.

"There have also been occasions recently - including one at Brighton station - when I was literally forgotten about. The train completed its journey, everyone got off but I couldn't.

"On that occasion a kind passenger alerted staff to help me but they claimed they hadn't been told that a disabled person needing support would be travelling on the train.

"Haywards Heath station also concerns me. Very often that is where guards change train and if communication isn't good between them then I could be left stranded."

MP Maria Caulfield spoke during Women and Equalities Questions in the Houses of Parliament,

She said: "The current level of disruption to rail services is having a major impact upon passengers across my constituency, impacting upon their lives, and the lives of their families.

"This disruption is felt even more harshly by passengers that are visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and I therefore felt it necessary to ask how their needs are being met.

"I welcome the government’s response, however I will continue to lobby the Department for Transport to ensure that operators are meeting the requirements of their passenger licence."