Threatened at Birmingham International railway station

[VItraveller]

this happened to me a couple of months ago and it’s really put me off using the station.
It was broad daylight, around 10 am and I entered the station through the entrance looking for the escalator, I’m not too familiar with the layout of the station so I was walking through with my white cane and a lady started yelling at me.
I think she might’ve had some mental health difficulties, but she accused me of faking my disability and said that if I came any closer she would hit me with her walking stick.
I don’t know if this was an empty threat or not, but she seemed very agitated and I wanted to avoid her, luckily a passerby saw my predicament and guided me to the escalators but it was a pretty alarming experience.
I didn’t report it to anyone mainly because I wasn’t sure if there was anything they could do, and I couldn’t have described her as I’m completely blind.

Since then I’ve been looking into using Hampton in Arden station instead but it’s difficult to tell when it’s staffed, the information on the West Midlands Railway website isn’t always accurate.

has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?

 

[andythebrave]

I did once have homophobic slurs yelled in my face on the platform at Gatwick Airport by a complete stranger (business suit, smart, professional looking) and reported it to BTP; no idea what if anything happened after that.
I've no idea why it happened, just standing minding my own business, I guess there's a randomness to it all and we've just been in the wrong place at the wrong time and it's pretty unlikely to happen again so it wouldn't put me off visiting anywhere (except Victoria Park in Hackney where I got mugged but that's a different story).

 

[LCC106]

I’m sorry you experienced this. It must have been awful for you and I understand how it’s affected your confidence. I don’t have a disability but would recommend you report anything like this in future. It’s likely the station could have checked CCTV. I’m not familiar with your area but would recommend booking passenger assistance with future journeys.

 

[bramling]

I did once have homophobic slurs yelled in my face on the platform at Gatwick Airport by a complete stranger (business suit, smart, professional looking) and reported it to BTP; no idea what if anything happened after that.
I've no idea why it happened, just standing minding my own business, I guess there's a randomness to it all

On the latter point, anyone starting out of the blue in that way is likely to possess some form of mental health problem.

Therefore searching for logic is likely to be fruitless. Easier said than done, however the best thing to do is just move on and try and forget about it, though certainly report to the BTP if desired.

It really is a case that it’s them that has the problem and not you.

 

[Purple Train]

There is a regular commuter on the line I commute on who will quite happily threaten someone for getting on or off the train before him if he feels he's at the front of the queue, although to be fair to the guy he usually settles for "have some [expletive deleted] manners". Never mind that he's just pushed in front of five or six other people, or that the doors on a 345 are more than wide enough for two people to exit simultaneously. Honestly, in this situation, it's distressing but there's nothing one can do. It's an entitlement problem endemic within society and those of us who are polite and courteous bear no responsibility for it whatsoever.

 

[Bald Rick]

It was broad daylight, around 10 am and I entered the station through the entrance looking for the escalator, I’m not too familiar with the layout of the station so I was walking through with my white cane and a lady started yelling at me.
I think she might’ve had some mental health difficulties, but she accused me of faking my disability and said that if I came any closer she would hit me with her walking stick.

This is obviously an unpleasant incident and one that will cause you to be concerned. Personally I have never seen such behaviour at Birmingham International, but I have seen similar at many other stations in the West Mids.

Birmingham International is one of the safer and more secure stations in the area - it is busy, next to an airport and exhibition centre, and staffed at all times there are services. It will be regulalry patrolled by BTP as a result. In the event of any trouble, it is very likely there will be someone to help(police, staff, other station users), or at the very least call for help or act as a witness.

Whilst it might be difficult, in your circumstances I would return to using Birmingham International.

 

[WirralLine]

This is obviously an unpleasant incident and one that will cause you to be concerned. Personally I have never seen such behaviour at Birmingham International, but I have seen similar at many other ststions in the West Mids.

Birmingham International is one of the safer and more secure stations in the area - it is busy, next to an airport and exhibition centre, and staffed at all times there are services. It will be regulalry patrolled by BTP as a result. In the event of any trouble, it is very likely there will be someone to help(police, staff, other station users), or at the very least call for help or act as a witness.

Whilst it might be difficult, in your circumstances I would return to using Birmingham International.

I would echo @Bald Rick comments above. If you are unfortunate enough to encounter such behaviour again, report to the station staff ASAP so it can be logged, also worth texting British Transport Police on 61016.

Wishing you more pleasant journeys in future!