The phrase ‘step-free access’ is something many people will overlook, but for those with limited mobility, it is vital when using public transport.
Down in London, Transport for London has made much of the fact that the Elizabeth Line Crossrail Stations are all step-free, ensuring easy access irrespective of mobility levels. It is something many Tube stations cannot offer, especially the older ones dating back to the 19th century.
Here in Birmingham, the prospect of the new HS2 station will do more than just excite rail enthusiasts, city planners and people working in construction. The rebuilding of Curzon Street Station as the city’s hub for HS2 is an exceptional opportunity to do some amazing things with design and construction.
The good news is that step-free access is part of the design, with escalators and lifts to get passengers to and from all seven platforms.
All that may be great news if you are travelling on HS2 when it finally opens, but what about your home? What sense does it make to be able to get to a train with such ease, but not your bedroom or bathroom?
With stairlift installation, you can ensure that the same ease with which you can get around in a modern station is just as applicable in your home. You may not need to move at high speed, you certainly need to get from A to B.
In many ways, the underlying principle is the same. It’s all about dignity and opportunity, allowing you to make the most of life whether it is in your own home or travelling around.
There is one difference of course. While a project like HS2 is a vast, costly and lengthy undertaking – with aspects in Birmingham including a huge new viaduct near Curzon Street that has just gained planning permission, fitting a stairlift in your home is likely to be far faster and easier to accomplish than you ever imagined.
One might even say that installing it is a ‘high-speed’ undertaking.
