13-Year-old Ryan Horrod from Ferring is relying more and more on the use of a wheelchair as his condition worsens. Ryan recently got his first electric wheelchair which cannot be lifted on or off of Govia Thameslink Railway’s Southern service.

The teenager has been using his manual wheelchair for journeys to Goring-by-Sea which is his closest station with his mum Anne and doesn’t use the chair when getting on or off the train as Ryan is able to walk short distances.

The rail operator wanted to support Ryan’s love of travelling by train and Govia Thameslink Railway‘s Accessibility Lead, Carl Martin and Area Station Manager Graham Thrown organised to spend a whole morning with him and his mum at Brighton station.

Carl and Graham demonstrated the ease of finding help from station staff to get on or off of a train using a ramp. They also showed his family how to call for help if assistance wasn’t on hand using the station help point or via the train passenger alarm system which enables contact with the driver.

Ryan’s mum Anne explained: “Carl and the staff at Southern were so helpful – very knowledgeable, happy to answer all of our questions, and with a smile at all times,”

“Ryan is a massive train enthusiast but he was anxious about going up and down the ramp. I was worried about what might happen if something did go wrong and someone wasn’t there to meet us.

“The fact that he could ask all his questions about all the different scenarios means he is now really confident that whatever happens there is something in place to help.”

Anne went on to say that they had both had a brilliant day with the team and that the station manager had given Ryan a whistle which he was using at home to make his own train announcements.

Carl Martin Accessibility Lead at Govia Thameslink Railway stressed: “Here at GTR we want to give everyone the confidence to travel on all our trains, whatever assistance they may need.

“It was a huge pleasure to be able to help Ryan and his mum,”

Ryans day was part of Govia Thameslink Railway’s ‘Try a Train’ programme which is available throughout Thameslink, Greater Northern and Southern for schools, organisations and individuals. The programme aims to build confidence for those who may need assistance or feel anxious about train travel and the rail environment. Further accessibility information can be found online at Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern’s websites.