A Sheffield-based mobility scooter user has claimed that he is not given the same access as wheelchair users on trains throughout the UK. 

Jamie Clarke, 53, is a computer engineer who uses the train to attend meetings all around the UK for work, and feels that mobility scooter users don’t receive the same treatment as wheelchair users.

He would like to see something change in all 23 train companies throughout the UK. 

Jamie said: “I need my scooter. Even though I can walk, I can’t walk for very long due to my condition. Nine times out of 10 there is no issue but on that tenth time I feel like I have to fight for my right to board a train with my scooter.

“My wife is in a wheelchair and experiences no such confrontations when boarding any train. I mean I get that some scooters are too big to find room, but for some people such as myself who need their scooter to get around I can’t just leave it behind. I just want to be treated equally.”         

In addition to buying a train ticket, Jamie has to apply for a permit with certain train companies, and even then this is sometimes not enough.

He said: “Even though it doesn’t take long to apply, just an extra 5 minutes of my time, it’s the fact that there are too many train companies with their own policies and their own forms to fill in to apply for a permit. I just feel like there should be a single place to apply for a permit instead of going through all the individual companies.”

The Blue Badge Insurance’s website explains that even though most mobility scooters are allowed on trains, there are some instances when access for scooters might not be possible, for example, when the gap between the train and the platform is large, and there is a shortage of staff available to give assistance. 

Most train providers in the UK have a weight limit of 300 kg which includes the weight of the user. Additionally, the scooter must be less than 1.3 metres long, and some train companies require users to apply for a permit. 

Blue Badge Insurance have some helpful tips for mobility scooter users, including booking in advance, leaving plenty of time before travel, and having any relevant disability documents to hand. 

The Department of Transport, which oversees all transport in the UK, outlines on its website: “All rail companies and stations must comply with the Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) that states that all stations should provide assistance when trains are scheduled, if a station is inaccessible then the person should be given assistance to the next available accessible train station.

“As a disabled passenger, if you are unsatisfied with the rail service provided, you should contact the train operator that you used. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can then contact the Independent Rail Ombudsman.”