hey forum

i am disabled and today for the first time i was going to go on the train to scarborough instead of driving. i use a wheelchair or scooter to get around most of the time due to my illness and disability. i had arranged for a scooter in scarborough so i did not bother bringing a chair with me. me and my friend set of to the station this morning, as a disabled user i myslef and my friend recieve a discount on the train.we arrived at the stationb and went to book. the lady behind teh counter said i am sorry sir if you are not in your wheelchair or you are not blind then you are not disabled and can not have the discount or use the disbaled facilities. i was shocked by this how can they decided if you are disabeld just because i did not have my chair as i had arranged one at the other end. i said to her i am registered but she said again no. no wheelchair or proof of been blind then you will have to pay full price and have no extra room for your legs. i tried to tell her that she can not discriminate against me because i did not have a chair with me but it did not work. i asked to see the manager, but instead of the manager she called the transport police because i was raisng my voive and she felt thretened. in the end we missed the train andway. if there is anyone else who has had problems like this or similar with been disabled and not been allowed proper use of services please PM me

thanks for reading

What area are you in? I'm sure there's an MP round here who would have a lot to say on that matter :mad:

I assume you have some sort of travel pass or certification to prove your status?

Was it somebody at the station who refused to sell you the discounted ticket?

I believe that the travel office staff tend to be told that they can't sell any sort of discounted ticket unless a pass / disabled ticket / disability certificate of some sort is presented.

This is a bit jobsworthy in some cases and many people use common sense, but obviously not all.

Generally you should be able to see the Duty Station Manager, but if you were at all viewed as causing a breach of the peace they'll tend to bring the coppers in.

I would suggest you write a letter to your home MP and the managing company for Sheffield Station - not sure whether it's Midland Mainline - I think it is. Ensure that the letters mention your whole situation and also that you've contacted your MP.

The Disability Access legislation should be most useful here.

Good Luck!

Joe

It is Midland Mainline Joe :thumbsup:

I got no joy when I tried contacting their customer services through their website though :mad:

AndyC will probaby help out when he spots this ;)

Originally posted by Strix
I got no joy when I tried contacting their customer services through their website though :mad:

I've successfully contacted Midland Mainline via the website, requesting feedback in the form of a letter and I got an email the next day! (It's a good job I wasn't using a public computer/no access to email etc)

I think you'll find the staff to be generally quite rude behind that counter. Hang on, thats a bit harsh, I have never been served by them but I've heard them be completely unreasonable to some customers or just generally unhelpful. The email I received back from them was blunt to say the least (concise would be a compliment, however I didn't get to hear what I wanted to, so I shall not be complimentary about them) so I suggest that you take it to the next level. Describe your humiliation/inconvenience/added expense to the Station Manager and you may get somewhere with them.

If your disability is physical in the sense that you mainly use your wheelchair, surely it would be noiceable and acknowledged by the member of staff? If this is the case then it has to be downright jobsworthiness... This member of staff just wanted to exercise what very little power they have over you by refusing your entitlement to discount. Perhaps suggest some disability awareness training when you make your complaint?

The least they can do is refund the extra expenses incurred and give you their sincere apologies.

I hope you get it sorted, it really gets me mad when people go out of their way NOT to help the people who need it most.

National Rail website says...

"People who travel in their own wheelchairs who do not have a railcard will be given the following discounts:

First Class or Standard Open Single 34% off
First Class or Standard Day Single 34% off
First Class or Standard Day Return 50% off
First Class or Standard Open Return 34% off

The same discount will apply to one companion"

Even people IN wheelchairs should be careful with these tickets as they are the most expensive tickets sold. Often it's cheaper to buy a normal Saver Return or something like it (with no discount) because the discount off the tickets above mean they are often still more expensive than Saver Returns/Cheap Day Returns etc.

I would presume as you weren't travelling in your own wheelchair this is why you didn't receive a discount. As I read it, you aren't entitled to a discount particularly because you are disabled but because you are in a wheelchair. Right or wrong, that seems to be the rule.

As Otto has said, these things are only in place for people who have a wheelchair and are using it, otherwise anybody can simply claim to be disabled and get the discount.

If you had particular needs, they generally recommend you book in advance of your journey to ensure they can accomodate your needs - if several people with chairs are using the train they have to consider health and safety.

In the same situation, if you were concerned about getting a seat and hadn't booked, then speaking to the staff member on the platform when your train arrives is usually a good option, as they will happily help you get a seat. They regularly help people, particularly older people, who will have difficulties getting themselves, or their luggage onto the train.

I think most has been covered here. In the most to get a disabled discount you first need to buy a Disabled Persons Railcard, which gets you 34% off most fares.

Without a railcard there are concessions off the most expensive standard open return, this is however limited to those who are either registered blind or those who are confined to a wheelchair. I am guessing the logic here is those confined to a wheelchair use the wheelchair space and don't take up a seat, and those who are blind often take a companian.

All the above information is published in a booklet entitled something along the lines of a disabled persons guide to travelling by train. I think this is also on the National Rail website somewhere.

Any person who needs assistance however can book this, each train operator has a phone number to do this. Midland Mainline's is 08457 125678 and Northern Rail's is 0845 6008008 and should be booked at least the day before. You can then check in on the day at the information booth and the staff will be expecting you. If you are travelling on a train that offers seat reservations the assistance people on the phone will also have booked you a seat.

If you turn up on the day without pre-booking then the staff will help as best they can, however there may be a wait as pre-booked customers get priority, also you won't get a seat reservation.

yes i have a card to proove it. it was the ticket people in sheffield station. i have been lookng in to it more today and hopefully i will be able to get some answers from them. thanks anyway

This is why disabled people should be provided with extra income by the state so they can afford the extra expenses of a normal life, instead of expected an uncountable number of jobsworths to reduce their prices to remove those extra expenses.

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JGH

Originally posted by jgharston
This is why disabled people should be provided with extra income by the state so they can afford the extra expenses of a normal life, instead of expected an uncountable number of jobsworths to reduce their prices to remove those extra expenses.

--
JGH

But they are provided with extra income....the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. If there is any unfairness here it's that disabled railcards are only available to those receiving the higher rate of this component.