Rolling Traveler

At the time of writing, I´m on a train, unsure of where I can get out. When I bought the ticket to Erkelenz this afternoon, and saw that I´d be traveling by regional train, I went straight to the service point to order the Mobility Service. There are two models of regional train in Germany: an older one with two or three steps up into it and a verticla bar in the middle of the doorway, and the newer double-decker models with the floor of the compartment for wheelchairs lower than the platform. Either way, there´s no getting on without help. Anyway, the man at the service point took dow my details and told me to come back 20 minutes before my departure time, which I duly did, only to discover that there´d been a shift change, and there was now no record of my having ordered any help. They didn´t even know if I´d be able to get on the train, as the Mobility Service staff were apparently all busy.

Of course, like anyone, I find this sort of situation extremely irritating, but I try not to go fro 0 to furious in 60 seconds, and instead attempt to find a solution. I asked if they could call again, and told them that I was going up onto the platform to wait. My real intention was to see if I could corral a conductor or a few passengers into helping.

The train was already there, and I saw it was one of the older, higher models. Getting on would mean getting a ramp or being carried, the latter a difficult proposal considering how narrow the doors are with the vertical bar in the middle. Fortunately, the conductor saw me and offered to get the ramp,even though it´s not his job. That saved me having to persuade him. It took a while, but we managed to get on before the normal departure time of the train. However, once I was on board I got a bit of a nasty shock.

“Where are you getting out?” he asked.

“Erkelenz,” I replied.

“Oh. Well, that won´t work, you´ll have to get off now and get a different train, or go as far as Aachen. There´s no staff at Erkelenz and no ramp. You should have ordered the Mobility Service.”

“I did.”

“Well, they´re not here, and I can´t get you out on my own.”

I wasn´t about to get out and wait, because I was on a tight schedule, and I wasn´t prepared to go one city farther as my friend was picking me up in Erkelenz, we had plans… I decided to fudge the truth a little.

“My friend is meeting me in Erkelenz, and he´ll get me off the train, don´t worry,” I said, cheerfully.

“Okay, fine. But if I see you having trouble getting off, you´ll have to stay on and go as far as Aachen.”

And that was that - no discussion, no options. Even though I did everything I should have done to order the service and be on time, I may not get to my destination, and I won´t even know for another 24 minutes. This happens sometimes. Someone messes up, writing down the wrong time or date or not checking the train type, and suddenly your plans are thrown off, or you´re put through extra stress or effort. I could get mad, but I´ve never been very good at using that to achieve anything. If I had a paper trail, I could at least draw some consequences, but all I can do is wait and see what happens in Erkelenz. My friend won´t be there when I arrive…

What would you do in this situation?

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