A pensioner with arthritis has started splashing out for taxis, claiming the new lifts at Abbey Wood train station are too much of an ordeal.

Iris Atkins, 82, regularly uses the station to go out and about in Woolwich, Dartford and Gravesend.

But she claims the lifts - temporarily installed during the Crossrail construction work - are too small, very slow and cannot be operated without the help of station staff who sometimes take up to 10 minutes to arrive, leaving her and others waiting in the cold and rain.

She explained: "When you have to use the lift, you need to wait outside and press a button, then wait for somebody to come with a key and open it.

"But there's no shelter so you're left there out in the open. It's terrible when it's cold and windy."

She said that people taking the lifts had thought they were stuck, not realising a button inside has to be pressed down for the whole journey to keep it moving.

Now staff members need to go inside with passengers - taking up what is already a very small space.

She said: "It's absolute chaos when you're waiting. I've never seen anything like it. You're in it and it crawls along and starts shaking you about.

"I've never been in a lift that takes so long to go such a short distance.

"If I go to Dartford now I get off at Belvedere and I get a cab instead."

News Shopper:

Son Adrian Atkins, 52, who cares for his mum in Coralline Walk, Thamesmead, said: "We were told we would get lifts but these aren't disabled-friendly really and they're too small."

He added: "I think they've gone for a cheap option."

MP Teresa Pearce, who has received other complaints from constituents about the lifts, said: "Network Rail had more than enough time to ensure that sufficient plans were put in place to accommodate the needs of passengers before the Crossrail development started. As it is, people who need to use the lifts are struggling, which is unacceptable." 

A Crossrail spokesman said: "

“The lifts installed by Network Rail at Abbey Wood are designed to provide step-free access at the temporary station. They are designed to accommodate a wheelchair user and 1 or 2 additional people including the lift attendant.

"They are also available for people with young children, heavy luggage or with restricted mobility. These types of lifts are used at over 100 public locations around the country - notably Birmingham New Street station - so this is a tried and tested design.

“We're confident that local users will adapt to the change in layout and passengers with disabilities or restricted mobility will adapt to these temporary lifts. We have improved the facilities at the station overall, and will continue to monitor the situation throughout the  construction project.

“The brand new station when it opens in 2017 will have new larger lifts that will bring a significant improvement to the accessibility of Abbey Wood station and create accessible travel options for passengers travelling from Abbey Wood across London and the South East.

"Crossrail will be one of the most accessible train services in Britain with step free access to all stations on the network either under construction or currently being agreed by the project partners.”

Back in November, News Shopper reported how the beeping noise made by the lifts could be heard for miles around, keeping some residents awake.