A WHEELCHAIR user was left “freezing cold and in tears” when her rail replacement taxi failed to show up following a FOUR hour wait.

Hollie-Anne Brooks, 30, is launching legal action against Greater Anglia insisting she is “tired of saying sorry” for her disability.

Ms Brooks was left unable to walk after fighting meningitis last year.

She relies on a replacement taxi service to take her to Wivenhoe from Colchester as her home station is not fully accessible.

Last Tuesday, at around 11.15pm, she arrived at Colchester station to find her taxi, which she booked 24 hours in advance, had not arrived.

She was still at the station four hours later when a replacement taxi finally showed up.

Ms Brooks, a journalist and disability activist, said: “You don’t really want to spend longer in your wheelchair than you absolutely have to.

“I have experienced so many failures when it comes to my travel at Colchester Station not through the staff, but through the planning process for people in my position.

“There has been a couple of times when my taxi hasn’t turned up, but that is often at around 5pm and I am able to just get a bus home.

“I’m sick of apologising for my disability.

“This was an oversight which was dangerous for my mental and physical health.

“If this had been a frail 90-year-old rather than a 30-year-old woman I dread to think what would have happened.”

Ms Brooks says her taxi was finally sent from Ipswich and arrived at the station at 3am, before dropping her home at around 3.15am.

The mistake has led to renewed calls for provision for disabled passengers at Wivenhoe train station.

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said the taxi had broken down en route to the station.

She said: “Our staff did all they could to help Hollie-Anne complete her journey keeping her as warm and comfortable as possible while she waited in the customer service office with a hot drink. We also tried to book a hotel room for her.

“Once we sourced an appropriate taxi, Hollie-Anne was able to continue with her journey.

“We are really sorry for the inconvenience caused. We have contacted Hollie-Anne directly again, as we would be keen to meet with her.”