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Firm to the rescue after mobility scooter is banned from train (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Firm to the rescue after mobility scooter is banned from train
7:00am Friday 11th May 2012 in News
Geraldine Lamb said trains needed to be more accessible
A disabled man who was told his mobility scooter would be banned from a leg of his journey to meet the Queen will be able to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party after a Keighley business stepped in.
David and Geraldine Lamb’s plans ran into trouble when they learned that Mr Lamb’s mobility scooter could not be transported by rail from Keighley to Leeds by Northern Rail due to safety reasons.
Mr Lamb, 67, of Cross Roads, Keighley, has been disabled since 1999 when he fell five-storeys from a building while carrying out maintenance work.
The couple’s plight came to the attention of McDowell Distribution Ltd, a haulage and distribution company which has a depot in Valley Road, Keighley, and bosses have agreed to take his mobility scooter to Leeds and bring it back after they have met the Queen.
Stephen Fry, of the firm’s sales and marketing team, said: “We’re very happy to do it. We’d heard about their story and saw it as an opportunity to help people in the community.”
Mrs Lamb described the offer of help as “lovely”. She said train companies needed to make their facilities more accessible.
A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “Unfortunately, there is no standard design for scooters – unlike wheelchairs – and we cannot guarantee that a scooter user will be able to safely manoeuvre their vehicle off the platform, onto the train and into an available wheelchair space.
“We have carried out an extensive risk assessment to increase access onboard the wide range of trains in our fleet and at 463 of the stations we manage.
“However, the results of these show that at the current time, we would not be able to guarantee the safety of scooter users.
“We understand that scooters offer mobility to many individuals, but at present, they are not currently recognised as a disability aid. As such, we are not legally required to carry them on our services, but we are working hard with our industry partners to find realistic solutions for our passengers who wish to use them.”
Comments(11)
allinittogether
says...
9:03am Fri 11 May 12
The man was going to see the Queen for goodness sake!
What a missed opportunity to demonstrate they go the extra mile for their customers.
Joedavid
says...
10:11am Fri 11 May 12
Albion.
says...
10:29am Fri 11 May 12
allinittogether wrote:I wouldn't call it "apparent indifference" Imagine if he had an accident while on the train, their insurers might well show apparent indifference.
What a great gesture by McDowell Distribution in complete contrast to Northern Rail's apparent indifference.
The man was going to see the Queen for goodness sake!
What a missed opportunity to demonstrate they go the extra mile for their customers.
markjoe
says...
10:43am Fri 11 May 12
allinittogether
says...
1:36pm Fri 11 May 12
Albion. wrote:I accept that Northern Rail couldn't take the scooter but by indifference I meant that they could have made alternative arrangements as a one off gesture. They now get adverse publicity, for the sake of a few quid. How difficult would it have been to get in touch with a local taxi firm/minibus hire whoever and arrange a special trip and give true customer service?
allinittogether wrote:I wouldn't call it "apparent indifference" Imagine if he had an accident while on the train, their insurers might well show apparent indifference.
What a great gesture by McDowell Distribution in complete contrast to Northern Rail's apparent indifference.
The man was going to see the Queen for goodness sake!
What a missed opportunity to demonstrate they go the extra mile for their customers.
Joedavid
says...
8:33pm Fri 11 May 12
allinittogether wrote:It seems the train people frightened of the passenger falling off the scooters as they ride from platform into train.
Albion. wrote:I accept that Northern Rail couldn't take the scooter but by indifference I meant that they could have made alternative arrangements as a one off gesture. They now get adverse publicity, for the sake of a few quid. How difficult would it have been to get in touch with a local taxi firm/minibus hire whoever and arrange a special trip and give true customer service?
allinittogether wrote:I wouldn't call it "apparent indifference" Imagine if he had an accident while on the train, their insurers might well show apparent indifference.
What a great gesture by McDowell Distribution in complete contrast to Northern Rail's apparent indifference.
The man was going to see the Queen for goodness sake!
What a missed opportunity to demonstrate they go the extra mile for their customers.
OK have a normal wheelchair on Train or station, take passenger onto train in the wheelchair and push empty scooter into train.
Simple.
justjustice
says...
9:43pm Fri 11 May 12
It's all about profits, as much profit as you can make and **** the customer. not he best business plan but then you are stuck when it comes to things you have signed contracts to, like your broadband or mobile. Consumer rights are nothing make than ink on toilet paper.
That said, these scooters, though giving people more freedom, really are a nuisance, they are only second to prams. I absolutely hate it when either block an aisle or when 2 parents stop their prams side by side again blocking an aisle. Sometimes I think stores should have a rule like the "only 2 school children at a time" thing.
I see a pram here, a scooter there, and all of them are oblivious to the fact they are blocking everyone else off!
Albion.
says...
6:39am Sat 12 May 12
Joedavid wrote:Who exactly gets the wheelchair and lifts it and the passenger onto the train, followed by empty scooter? And presumably the reverse at the other end.
allinittogether wrote:It seems the train people frightened of the passenger falling off the scooters as they ride from platform into train.
Albion. wrote:I accept that Northern Rail couldn't take the scooter but by indifference I meant that they could have made alternative arrangements as a one off gesture. They now get adverse publicity, for the sake of a few quid. How difficult would it have been to get in touch with a local taxi firm/minibus hire whoever and arrange a special trip and give true customer service?
allinittogether wrote:I wouldn't call it "apparent indifference" Imagine if he had an accident while on the train, their insurers might well show apparent indifference.
What a great gesture by McDowell Distribution in complete contrast to Northern Rail's apparent indifference.
The man was going to see the Queen for goodness sake!
What a missed opportunity to demonstrate they go the extra mile for their customers.
OK have a normal wheelchair on Train or station, take passenger onto train in the wheelchair and push empty scooter into train.
Simple.
onefaith
says...
8:54am Sat 12 May 12
ic to see that there are people out there willing to help the local people...bet northern rail wont have any simpathy in there souls.only pound signs flashing away in there eyes
White Rhino
says...
9:59am Mon 14 May 12
If they can't turn round in the train then presumably they have to get off backwards too, we can shout at safety but sometimes it does make sense.
Wakeywakey says...
8:11am Fri 11 May 12