Paralympian Sophie Christiansen 'stranded on a train'

Sophie Christiansen won three gold medals during this year's Paralympic Games in Rio

An eight-time Paralympic gold medallist says she was "stranded" on a train waiting for an exit ramp.

Sophie Christiansen, who won three gold medals in dressage at the Rio games, commutes from Maidenhead to London for her job as a technology analyst.

The wheelchair user, who has cerebral palsy, took to social media after a ramp on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train was not available.

Network Rail said it will work with GWR to improve the service.

The 28 year old, who was awarded an OBE in 2013 for her services to equestrianism, said on her Twitter account on Monday: "What a welcome back by @NetworkRailPAD and @GWRUK - no ramp off train!"

She said: "I travel quite regularly into London. While I am grateful for the assistance I do get... quite often there is a breakdown in communications between the two stations and I end up stranded on a train with no ramp."

Currently disabled passengers are expected to book disabled access assistance up to 24 hours in advance of their journey.

A spokesman for Network Rail said that 200 people request assistance at Paddington every day.

He added: "We ask passengers to give us notice so we can plan staffing for each day in the most efficient way.

"We will always endeavour to assist passengers immediately when they turn up without prior notice but if this is at the same time as others who need assistance there can be a wait."

Miss Christiansen said she did not book advance assistance, but added: "I think in this day and age I just find that unacceptable. If able-bodied people can travel spontaneously, why can't we?"

A GWR spokesman said: "No customer should have to wait a significant period of time for assistance, whether booked in advance or not, and we are sorry we didn't get it right on this occasion."

Independent watchdog Transport Focus found that four in 10 passengers who booked disabled assistance did not receive any aid.

Transport Focus passenger director David Sidebottom said: "The spontaneity of train journeys is something that needs to be improved for disabled users."