A visually impaired law student who tumbled onto railway tracks at one of Britain's busiest stations after promised assistance failed to appear has been awarded £18,000 in compensation. The alarming incident highlights ongoing concerns about accessibility across the national rail network.
Midnight Ordeal at Manchester Piccadilly
Abdul Eneser, a 23-year-old masters law student at the University of Strathclyde, sustained injuries to his knees, hands and neck during the terrifying episode at Manchester Piccadilly station in May 2022. He continues to experience significant anxiety following the event.
The student had meticulously arranged Passenger Assist support in advance for his journey. However, when he arrived at the station around midnight on a later service than originally planned – having missed a connection at Preston due to delays – he discovered all Passenger Assist staff had reportedly gone home.
Critical Sixty-Second Escape
In a heart-stopping turn of events, Mr Eneser managed to haul himself back onto the platform just sixty seconds before a non-stop freight train thundered through the station. This narrow escape occurred after he attempted to locate exit steps in the unfamiliar environment but inadvertently stumbled onto the tracks.
Remarkably, Avanti West Coast staff at Preston station had assured him they would radio ahead to Manchester Piccadilly to notify them of his presence on the train. This communication apparently failed to result in the promised assistance being available upon his arrival.
Legal Proceedings and Settlement
Specialist law firm Leigh Day initiated court proceedings against Network Rail under both the 2010 Equality Act and the Occupiers Liability Act 1957. The case centred on Network Rail's alleged failure to install tactile paving at the station – a crucial safety feature for blind and visually impaired passengers.
Tactile paving employs raised studs or distinctive surfaces to warn people with visual impairments when they are approaching hazards such as platform edges. While Network Rail did not formally admit liability in this specific case, they agreed to pay Mr Eneser £18,000 in compensation.
Broader Accessibility Concerns
Mr Eneser emphasised that his case represents more than just financial compensation. 'Poor accessibility in rail travel is not just a one-off issue,' he stated. 'This is something that prevents myself and others with visual impairments from travelling with confidence. I'm not always sure that I'll be met with the right level of support to complete my journeys.'
He added that inadequate accessibility measures 'at the best of times, makes travel stressful, and in the worst-case scenario it can be really dangerous.'
Industry Response and Wider Context
Kate Egerton, senior associate solicitor at Leigh Day, commented: 'Network Rail and train operators have a clear obligation to ensure that train stations are accessible for all. Not only is it distressing for passengers with visual impairments to try to navigate inaccessible platforms and services, it is also extremely dangerous.'
She continued: 'Whilst I am pleased that we were able to secure this settlement for Abdul, his case and continued experiences highlight wider accessibility issues across the rail network that need to be addressed.'
A Network Rail spokesperson offered a full apology: 'We are extremely sorry for the experience Abdul Eneser suffered at Manchester Piccadilly. We let him down and have offered him our full and unreserved apology. We recognise that there is much to do to make the railway more accessible for all and are working closely with industry partners to deliver these improvements across the rail network as quickly as we can.'
National Tactile Paving Rollout
This case emerges against a backdrop of national efforts to improve station safety. In July 2023, the Department for Transport announced that the rollout of tactile paving across all railway stations in Britain had been completed.
This nationwide installation followed the tragic death of blind charity worker Cleveland Gervais, 53, who fell from a platform at Eden Park station in Beckenham, south-east London in February 2020. That station lacked tactile paving at the time, and Mr Gervais was struck and killed by a train.
The Manchester Piccadilly incident and subsequent settlement underscore the critical importance of both physical safety measures and reliable assistance services for disabled passengers throughout the UK's transport infrastructure.
