Rail Operator Bans Disabled Scooters

First Great Western, the biggest train operator in the West of England, has announced a ban on motorised mobility scooters, claiming the heaviness of the scooters creates weight issues for their fleet.

The scooter ban has led to members of the public accusing the rail operator of discrimination against disabled passengers.

A Lifeline Stripped Away

Expressing their disapproval, Age Concern Bristol says the action taken by First Great Western is unjust and will hugely affect the elderly and disabled community, who see public transport as a lifeline which maintains independence and combats isolation.

Disabled veteran John Morris, who travels in a motorised scooter, was the first Great Western traveller to be refused entry to their carriage.  90 year old Morris, a former Lance Sergeant in the Grenadier Guards, is now pursuing legal action.

Scooter Access Denied

Speaking to the The Somerset Guardian Mr Morris commented: “I got on to the two-carriage train at Worle with no problem – the ticket collector put down a ramp so that I could drive on and telephoned ahead to make sure a ramp would be ready when I changed trains at Weston-super-Mare to continue my journey to Taunton.

“But when I got to Weston-super-Mare, the customer services man upbraided me as if I was a child.  I had to travel to Taunton by taxi instead, but after the match I went to Taunton train station and drove onto the train back to Worle with no problem.  It makes no sense.”

A week later Mr Morris encountered further problems when boarding a train to Hungerford.  Morris wished to travel to Hungerford to welcome home troops from Afghanistan who had been deployed from his old regiment.

He explains: “I’d already arranged my transport to the event for the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in Hungerford last weekend with the help of the train company, but then I got a letter from them saying that I should not take the buggy on board and warned me not to pressurise staff.  I think it is defamatory to suggest that I have pressurised staff or would do so.  The letter was very humiliating.”

As a result, Mr Morris travelled by taxi arranged by members of the Bristol branch of the Grenadier Guards, who paid for his fare.

Disabled Scooters Not for Trains

A spokesman for First commented: “Motorised scooters aren’t designed to go on our trains.  They are designed for the road and there are weight issues.  We are able to accommodate motorised wheelchairs and we do our very best to make sure we accommodate and assist people.”