Written question asked by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Adonis (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 December 2008.

Railways: Wheelchair Users

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 20 November (WA 227) on arrangements train operators must make for accommodating wheelchair users, what is meant by ““will provide””; and whether disabled passengers are obliged to give notice of their travel to the station.

Answer: Where a disabled person's journey starts from or finishes at a station that is inaccessible to them, there is an obligation upon the train operator to supply, at no additional charge, some form of accessible transport from the start station to the next accessible station along the route, or from the final accessible station to the destination station. This obligation is usually subject to operators being given reasonable prior notice of the need for alternative transport, and to the availability of suitable alternative transport. Information about these arrangements should be well publicised in information material aimed at passengers who have some form of disability.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13; 706 c3WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Railways: Wheelchair Users
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Access Disability Railway stations Passengers Transport Wheelchairs
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk