FURIOUS Sam Meekings says she’s been left screaming into Swindon train station for help because its disabled facilities are not working.

She has been driven to despair and is considering quitting her dream job after encountering numerous problems with the disabled access route to the train platforms on her commute to London.

Sam claims that she had to shout into the station for assistance after finding the intercom to the route broken, pulled out, or not being answered on several occasions.

And the 33-year-old from Haydon Wick said that she’s been prevented from using the disabled access route.

She said: “It’s so exhausting, stressful and painful that I just can’t deal with it any more, getting to work is a constant battle and I’ve had enough.

“At this point, I genuinely believe that GWR doesn’t want disabled passengers using their service. I feel like an inconvenience that they just want to go away.

“It’s inexcusable and inconsiderate.

“I’ve been told several times that the disabled access route isn’t for disabled people even though all the signs say it is.

“After getting confirmation from the social media team that it is a disabled route, I had no issues for a couple of days.

“Then the staff told me the manager wouldn’t allow me to use the route any more as he claimed it was only to be used when the main lift was broken.

“So I’ve had to walk a long way over trip hazards to use the lift, which is often broken.

“I’ve missed trains because of this, I’ve fallen and caused further injury to my knee because of this and I’m worried about it getting worse.

“What’s worrying is I don’t think I’m the only person experiencing this.

“How many other disabled people out there have had similar struggles but not spoken out about it?”

Due to her swollen knee, Sam can’t climb steps or walk very far, so she uses a walking stick to alleviate the strain and takes prescription painkillers to cope with the agonising pain.

She added: “It wasn’t until I was in this position that I realised how little GWR cares about disabled people or understand what they need.

“I’ve been working in childcare for 15 years to get to this point in my career, it’s all I’ve ever wanted, but this ordeal has been so frustrating and degrading.

“When I transfer to another location, I’ll have to take a big pay cut, but at least I won’t have to use Swindon station to get to work any more.

“I might get my knee fixed, but other people will still be disadvantaged by this poor service from GWR.”

A Great Western Railway spokesman said: “We want our stations and services to be as accessible to as many people as possible, which is why we invested in improved step-free access at Swindon Station some time ago, with lifts from the car park level directly into the station.

“The entrance the customer seems to be trying to use is an old one.

“The correct entrance is around 40 metres from the old gate, accessed via a safe, step-free walking route.

“While the old gate is clearly marked as only accessible with permission of an authorised person, we realise the signage at the old gate does not make it clear where alternative access is available, and we will be looking at improving this as soon as possible.

“We’ve written to Miss Meekings to let her know about the accessible route to the lifts, and to see if there is anything more we can do to make her journey with us easier.”