Train switch on rest home trip

A mechanical fault meant wheelchair-bound residents from Paihiatua's Waireka Rest Home had to be moved from one Masterton train station to another for their annual excursion to Wellington yesterday.

More than 20 residents and helpers initially caught the 10.25am train from Masterton Station to Wellington.

But the hoist on the left side of the carriage could not be used so wheelchair-bound residents were ferried down to Solway Station to use the hoist on the other side of the carriage.

The other excited residents lined up to get on the train once some makeshift steps were obtained from their rest home van.

Diversional therapist Rose Khan said the residents had been looking forward to their annual trip to Wellington. "We try to do stuff that the residents choose to do," she said. "This is one of the major trips that they love."

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As SuperGold card holders, the residents are entitled to use the train for free between 9am and 3pm and after 6.30pm on weekdays. So they were to catch the 12.55pm train back to Masterton from Wellington.

"They feel they don't get much use of the gold card and this is one way of getting a free ride," said Mrs Khan.

They were planning to have lunch on the train. "Those that are able to walk will get off and have a look around," she said.

"We did it last year and they all enjoyed it."

Despite the hiccups, Mrs Khan said she was pleased with the service received by staff who helped load and unload the passengers.

"We had excellent help with the train personnel," she said.

The group had called ahead to let the organisers know they would be using the train, but did not make a group booking.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said the mechanical fault with the door was identified on Thursday morning which meant the wheelchair hoist was unable to be used.

"We tried to contact the organiser of the group sometime between 9pm and 9.30pm to let them know we had a problem," she said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to get hold of him."

The woman said staff would be at Wellington Station to help the residents get off the train, and they had also shifted platforms to make it easier.

She said alternative transport would have been arranged if other wheelchair-bound passengers were unable to be moved to another station.

"If we did need to take anyone else on that 10.25 service we would have had to arrange alternative transport," she said.

The carriage was to be taken out of service in Wellington.