Less than half of the train stations across New South Wales have disability access, information obtained by the ABC through the Government Information Public Access (GIPA) Act shows.

There are 311 stations in New South Wales and 162 have no wheelchair access facilities.

Sydney's booming western suburbs are among the hardest hit, with no wheelchair access at key stations including Kingswood, Doonside and Rooty Hill.

Stations close to the CBD including Redfern, Edgecliff and Stanmore do not have adequate facilities. Disability access in the Blue Mountains is sparse in Glenbrook, Faulconbridge and Blackheath.

Mel Harrison, who lives 400 metres from St Peters train station in inner-Sydney, uses a wheelchair to move around and said her local station is inaccessible, restricting her life.

"It can be quite distressing because I guess you have to trust the people that help you that you're going to be okay but it's also making sure that the people that are helping you don't hurt themselves as well so it's a two-way street," she said.

To get to work Ms Harrison has to drive, something she said can be more of an effort because of her disability.

"It's challenging and it can be quite frustrating at times because it'd be nice just to be able to get up in the morning and be able to just go like other people can if they can walk around," she said.

NSW Government to invest $890 million in upgrades

The NSW Government is spending $890 million over four years to improve disability access at train stations across the state, but the ABC can reveal only nine stations have been upgraded since 2014.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the problem is a legacy issue born by decades of neglect.

"We want to work with the disability community to ensure that we do get the access right," Mr Constance said.

"We've got major investments happening at lifts across stations as we speak, more to roll out absolutely, but we're starting to make the inroads necessary over 400 projects this government has delivered or in the process of delivering since coming to office."

Ms Harrison said driving to work can be an effort because of her disability. ( ABC News: Brigid Glanville )

NSW Shadow Minister for Transport Ryan Park said that was not good enough as upgrades will take up to 25 years to complete.

"What we need to see is the Government accelerate this program, commit some real dollars and explain how long they will take to finish off the accessibility of stations right across the network starting with obviously those around the key population areas," he said.

Six months ago dismaying footage showed a disabled man forced to crawl up stairs at Unanderra train station.

The disability sector said while access to platforms is one problem, disabled people are restricted to where they can board trains, usually having to rely on station staff to provide ramps to get on and off which can be distressing during peak times.

"I think the key point is this is a human rights issue it needs to be treated as a human rights issue, that is why we're investing at very significant levels to meet this challenge head on," Mr Constance said.

"Unanderra like other stations is being looked at, at this point in time."

Lack of lifts cause problems for people with prams and trolleys

Mani Rai lives near Beecroft Station in Sydney's north-west and said the lack of lifts at her local station means she has to wait for someone to give her a hand or carry her baby when she travels with her two children, aged seven and eighteen months old.

"Today I went to the city for some work and I just drove rather than catching a train," she said.

Unanderra Train Station, south of Sydney, is one of those without disabled access. ( Facebook )

"Considering we live opposite the train station - I was thinking it's not going to be worth it with the little one on the steps and he might be sleeping when we come back so how am I going to take him out of the push chair and then carry him?"

Jean Berger also lives in Beecroft and says she struggles doing her grocery shopping in Pennant Hills and Eastwood where she has to travel by train.

"As long as I'm careful [I'm] fine," she said.

"If it's just laden up it's just bump, bump, bump [down the stairs and I'm] carefully holding onto the banister and guiding the trolley at the same time.

"It takes a while and I dread it because it is so difficult you can just imagine the height and my trolley really is very, very full, it would have over 30 kilos in it sometimes, it's hard.

"We have other elderly friends too who have been very quite distressed because they don't have a car and that's what they do."

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