The railway station by Auckland’s busy hospital was in the middle of an upgrade, putting its lifts temporarily out of action. Luckily, Downer Construction hired one of our vans to improve accessibility.
Chris Fox (Driver/Operator at Downer), with Freedom Mobility’s Wheelchair Accessible Rental Vehicle
Chris Fox, Driver/Operator at Downer, is a good sort. That much is clear when you hear from Grandmother Chrissy, who could take her grandson with complex mobility needs on train rides and have lunch with her granddaughter at the hospital, thanks to his tireless efforts. “It has made such a difference,” says Chrissy. “His going the extra mile for me each time I come has been such a blessing.”
The station upgrade is a welcome one. It squeezes a third main line in at what is a narrow rail corridor, in anticipation of growing AT Metro and KiwiRail freight services. Especially once the CRL opens. Trouble is, the work meant the lifts would be out of action for a period of time, potentially denying access for wheelchair users and other less able customers. Downer Construction, however, had other ideas. After all, one of the values they pride themselves on is ‘We do it for our customers’. So they looked at what could be done, deciding to hire one of our wheelchair-accessible vans to ferry customers around the works to the station platforms, and improve access to Middlemore Hospital.
A good plan in theory, what made it such a success was the man actually delivering the service: Chris Fox. And it wasn’t just driving the van from A to B. Passengers like Chrissy and staff from the hospital were quick to share kind words about his offering a warm welcome, assisting with bags and prams on the stairs, and being a steady, friendly presence for those passing through. The man himself, though, remains humble about the recognition. “I didn’t expect to get it,” says Chris. “And I’m so thankful for it.”
We’re always pleased when one of our vehicles make a difference to people, and it couldn’t have been in better hands than with Chris. Good on ya, and kudos to Downer for doing it.
This article was inspired by a piece originally published on LinkedIn by Downer. You can read the full original article here.
Find out more about the station upgrade project led by Downer.
