THE sheer frustration of suffering a disability was rammed home this week by Ann Bates' story of her train journey from her home in Worthing in Sussex to City Thameslink.

Ann, who is in a wheelchair, arrived at the Thameslink station only to find the lift out of action. She was effectively stranded -- and the advice of the station staff?

To get a train to Luton Airport 45 miles away, change platforms there and travel the 45 miles back, thus arriving on the other side of the tracks at Thameslink, where the lift was working. Ann arrived back from the 90 mile round trip to discover she could have used emergency exit doors situated just yards from where she had originally arrived.

Naturally, Ann was late for her meeting -- with rail bosses. She is an advisor to the Government on disabled access to public transport!