Three of the four lifts at the $93 million Laverton railway station are broken, leaving wheelchair passengers and people with prams stranded on the platform.
Laverton resident Lesley Ould said it was impossible for anyone with a pram or wheelchair to use the steep steps.
“My daughter’s got a pram and four little kids. We were going to the city and had to get someone to help us lift the pram down.
“My husband’s got a wheelchair and he couldn’t come. They used to say you can walk down to Aircraft [station], but how can you if you’re old? There’s no way you could because it’s too far.”
Metro this week directed people with special needs to travel to Aircraft station, about a kilometre away.
Western suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland said Laverton station, unlike most with elevated entrances, had no ramps. “Passengers with a disability and the elderly are being denied freedom of movement; it’s discrimination,” she said.
“The lifts have been breaking down since the day this station opened.
“We need a permanent fix and I believe that would be through building of ramps which never break down.”
After the Weekly’s inquiries, Metro spokeswoman Pauline O’Connor said on Monday that a lift maintenance crew visited Laverton station the same day to repair one of the lifts.
“There are two other lifts at the station that have also experienced faults, and we are waiting for parts to arrive from overseas and will carry out these repairs as soon as possible,” she said.
“We are advising customers with special needs – such as those in wheelchairs, using mobility aids and with prams – to speak with station staff, who will assist them in travelling to nearby Aircraft station. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused to our customers who use the lifts.”
Ramps will be installed at Footscray station, which has also experienced numerous lift breakdowns.
