DISABLED passengers using a rural train station face longer journeys because nothing is being done to improve access.

Passengers using Arnside station who want to travel south must cross a footbridge to get to the southbound platform.

However, disabled passengers, particularly those in wheelchairs, struggle to cross the steep bridge and so are left with no choice but to travel north to Grange-over-Sands where an underpass allows them step-free access to the southbound platform.

Critics have complained this adds unnecessary time and stress to journeys.

Parish council chairman Councillor Dave Willacy said: "It isn't just disabled people that are affected, it's young mothers with prams. It's something that needs sorting out.

"It's unbelievable if you are disabled - you want to go from A to B as quickly as possible, you don't want to go to Grange and wait for half an hour to get back."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins, who has taken up the issue, wrote to Vernon Barker, managing director of TransPennine Express, which operates the station and runs trains through it between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster.

Mr Vernon replied: "Anyone requiring access facilities other than those at their local TransPennine Express station will be provided with alternative transport, to the nearest stations with suitable facilities.

"On their return journey they will be supplied with transport from the nearest accessible station to their local station."

He added that passengers should phone in advance to book this service or call a different line if they arrived without having booked.

In an earlier letter to Mr Collins, parish clerk Peter Challenor wrote: "The mind boggles at the situation for a disabled person who wishes to travel from a non-accessible station to a non-accessible station and then make the return. It might take all day."

John Owen, of the Rail Passengers' Committee, said: "It's not satisfactory. We would still hope to find a remedy but it isn't going to be in near future."

Paul Jackson, TPE's station manager for Cumbria, said the firm intended to put minicoms on the station platform to all customers to contact the relevant person.

The firm's spokesman David Mallinder said no thought was given at the time the station was built to disabled access: "Clearly the situation is not ideal but it's the best compromise we can find."

Call TPE's assisted travel line for pre-booking on 0845 600 1674 or the customer relations line, without having booked, on 0845-600-1671.