A DISABLED rail passenger has been left frustrated as lifts at Bolton station continually break down - leaving him with no way to access the platform.

Mr Slack uses an electric motorised wheelchair due to sclerosis which means he can only stand for a few minutes at a time.

The 19-year-old lives in Manchester but travels to Bolton via the train twice a week to do his food shopping thanks to the accessibility of supermarkets in the town centre.

On several occasions he has found himself stranded at the station after discovering the lifts - the only disabled access to the platforms - were broken.

Operator Northern has provided him with a taxi when this has happened but Mr Slack constantly has to check the lifts are working before making his journey.

He said: “It’s been an ongoing problem for the past two months, the lifts keep breaking down and they don’t seem to be getting fixed. It’s incredibly annoying and there’s been a few instances where I’ve been stuck in Bolton.

“Northern has been helpful with providing a taxi to take me home. But this does add time to my journey and I should be able to use the train station like everyone else.

“I always have to check before I travel to see if the lifts will be working at Bolton and I sometimes have to cancel my trip last minute. I travel to Bolton because the town centre is really accessible for me, I can get to the supermarkets and shops much easier than in Manchester.

“I can’t understand why the problem can’t be sorted once and for all. It’s left me feeling uneasy about travelling and it’s a very stressful situation.”

Chris Jackson, regional director, said: “We are aware of the ongoing issue with the lifts at Bolton station and apologise to any customers whose journeys have been disrupted or made more difficult because of the problems.

“Contractors have attended several times and we can confirm the lifts are fully operational again following final repairs on Thursday .

“Providing an accessible railway is a vitally important for Northern and we have made significant improvements across our network in recent months to help those with mobility needs.

“This includes a new mobility scooter scheme, enhancements at stations and, in conjunction with Network Rail, improved lift provision.”