FGW's ban on disabled scooters branded 'unjust' (this is Somerset 03/07/2010)

[whole diary]

[northwesterntrains]

Northern print in their timetables that they don't convey mobility scooters.  So considering with the exception of the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) that Northern and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have very similar fleets (a 165 interior is very similar to a 323 interior) it seems logical that they have the same policy.  

[inspector_blakey]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s official line on the subject, from here:

Wheelchairs and powered scooters

All First Great Western train services can carry manual or powered wheelchairs up to the following dimensional and weight limitations: -

Width 700 millimetres (650 mm on Coach G First Class HST^▸ (High Speed Train))
Length (including footplates) 1200 millimetres
Weight (including passenger) 300 kilograms

Some powered scooters are effectively road vehicles and unsuitable for carriage on public transport. Equally, many others may be folded down into manageable sized components that are no larger or heavier than other pieces of luggage regularly conveyed on trains.

The majority of scooters have a wider turning circle than wheelchairs occupying the same dimensional footprint and are not therefore, appropriate to take on board our services.

We do undertake however, to carry those models of scooter that can be folded down into lightweight and manageable components on our services.

We ask that the passenger, or their travelling companion, ensure that the scooter is folded down ready for boarding prior to the train's arrival.

Where necessary, passengers may use the station wheelchair pushed by our staff to board the train. The folded scooters can be stored safely in the luggage compartments. Our staff will offer assistance with storing these components.

For reasons of safety we must insist that powered wheelchairs and scooters do not exceed 2 mph on station platforms and under no circumstances should they go beyond the yellow line running parallel to the platform edge when operational.

The Roma Cadiz model that this press story refers to is too long for those specifications.

[JayMac]

Here's the flip-side which show's that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff can get it wrong.

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) (14/07/2010):

Teignmouth stroke victim's wheelchair train 'ban'

A rail operator has apologised to a disabled passenger after staff tried to "bar" him from a train.

Tim Mason, 49, from Teignmouth, Devon, was told he could not travel on the First Great Western (FGW) train if his wheelchair could not be folded away. Mr Mason, who suffered a stroke six years ago, said he was "shocked and amazed" as he had been travelling regularly on trains for three years.

FGW admitted it had "let Mr Mason down" and has offered him free travel.

Mr Mason was told by a member of the platform staff that fixed wheelchairs were not allowed on FGW trains because passengers had to be able to get into a train seat and fold up the wheelchair. When he said he was a regular traveller, he was told it was "illegal" and staff at Teignmouth should not have let him board the train.

FGW said it puts a great deal of effort into ensuring customers with wheelchairs could use its services, including arranging free transport to and from stations that have no step-free access. Spokesman Dan Panes said despite the company's best efforts, some large mobility scooters could not be safety carried - either because they could not be driven on ramps with an incline of more than 8% or because they were too big for the main carriage and blocked emergency exits.

However, in Mr Mason's case, neither of these problems existed.

"It is a shame we let Mr Mason down on this occasion," Mr Panes told BBC News. "We're really sorry this has happened - it shouldn't have done. We're already re-briefing all our colleagues to make sure a situation like this doesn't happen again, and we'll be offering Mr Mason three months' complimentary travel on our services by way of an apology."

Mr Mason, who used to run a hair salon before his stroke, has written to his MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), Anne Marie Morris, about the incident.

[Timmer]

of course one solution would be to restart Motorail.   

[JayMac]

Nodding donkeys are off limits for anything bigger than a folding bike.

Not quite true. Plenty of space for a wheelchair (or indeed a full size bicycle) at the saloon ends on 142/143s. Those in operation with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) also carry their own ramp.

[paul7575]

There does seem to be an increase in the number of scooters and a decline in electric wheelchairs.  Is it just a fashion thing (people thinking wheelchairs are "uncool"?) or maybe they have just become more affordable.

The 'Chelsea Tractor' of the pavement, sort of thing?

Paul

[Tim]

perhaps.  From Disabled World website:

What Advantages and Disadvantages Does an Electric Medical Scooter Offer?


An electric mobility scooter is an excellent, low-cost way to be able to travel independently, both indoors and outdoors. Many people prefer a medical scooter over an electric wheelchair because they simply look cooler. There is a psychological advantage to not being confined in a wheelchair, and scooters offer a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs to make using a scooter more fun.

I also learnt that scooters are generally cheaper than electric wheelchairs. 

[northwesterntrains]

There also seems to be problems when one operator accepts them and another refuses them - if you look at what this Merseyside woman says here: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=126390330715076&topic=178  Some people have tried to point out about 507s and 508s having wide doors while 153s and 156s have single doors but she's having difficulty understanding them.