Given how hard it already is to book accessible tickets, I can see it >becoming impossible.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/18/uk-train-companies-could- >have-to-pay-disabled-passengers-more-compensation-after-rule-change
Railway operators in the UK could soon have to pay out far greater sums
in compensation to disabled passengers left unable to access trains
despite booking assistance.
The rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has warned
companies running trains and stations that compensation claims for
failures can no longer be limited to the cost of a ticket.
The ORR is set to toughen up accessibility rules after a disabled
passenger was awarded about 10 times as much by a court than by the rail >ombudsman – £1,200 instead of £125 – after pre-booked assistance
to board
a train failed to materialise.
Passengers with disabilities can request help with luggage, navigating >stations and getting on and off trains, including the provision of ramps
if needed, through the Passenger Assist service. It is bookable up to two >hours before travel, but people report having often been left stranded on >trains and platforms.
In message <100d2h9$fl49$3@dont-email.me>, at 16:40:09 on Sun, 18 May
2025, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/18/uk-train-companies-coul
d- have-to-pay-disabled-passengers-more-compensation-after-rule-change
Railway operators in the UK could soon have to pay out far greater
sums in compensation to disabled passengers left unable to access
trains despite booking assistance.
The rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has warned
companies running trains and stations that compensation claims for
failures can no longer be limited to the cost of a ticket.
Alternatively the train companies could simply turn up with the
assistance where and when requested.
In message <100d2h9$fl49$3@dont-email.me>, at 16:40:09 on Sun, 18 Maycould-
2025, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked:
Given how hard it already is to book accessible tickets, I can see it >>becoming impossible.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/18/uk-train-companies-
have-to-pay-disabled-passengers-more-compensation-after-rule-change
Railway operators in the UK could soon have to pay out far greater sums
in compensation to disabled passengers left unable to access trains
despite booking assistance.
The rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has warned
companies running trains and stations that compensation claims for
failures can no longer be limited to the cost of a ticket.
The ORR is set to toughen up accessibility rules after a disabled
passenger was awarded about 10 times as much by a court than by the rail >>ombudsman – £1,200 instead of £125 – after pre-booked assistance to >>board a train failed to materialise.
Passengers with disabilities can request help with luggage, navigating >>stations and getting on and off trains, including the provision of ramps
if needed, through the Passenger Assist service. It is bookable up to
two hours before travel, but people report having often been left
stranded on trains and platforms.
Alternatively the train companies could simply turn up with the
assistance where and when requested.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote in news:yWQnxRDAftKoFAN9@perry.uk:
In message <100d2h9$fl49$3@dont-email.me>, at 16:40:09 on Sun, 18 May
2025, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked:
Alternatively the train companies could simply turn up with the
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/may/18/uk-train-companies-coul >>>d- have-to-pay-disabled-passengers-more-compensation-after-rule-change
Railway operators in the UK could soon have to pay out far greater sums >>>in compensation to disabled passengers left unable to access trains >>>despite booking assistance.
The rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has warned >>>companies running trains and stations that compensation claims for >>>failures can no longer be limited to the cost of a ticket.
assistance where and when requested.
And that is what the planned stick will be there to encourage.
On Mon, 19 May 2025 08:03:28 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Alternatively the train companies could simply turn up with the
assistance where and when requested.
Why on earth would they ever do that ?
Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
On Mon, 19 May 2025 08:03:28 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
Alternatively the train companies could simply turn up with the
assistance where and when requested.
Why on earth would they ever do that ?
Well, they have some options:
1. Withdraw the service
2. Provide the service
3. Fail to provide the service and pay the fine
Since they're a heavily regulated industry #1 is going to have various statutory bodies come down on them hard. So they have to choose between #2 and #3. As #3 is now more expensive, it'll incentivise them to provide #2. If they don't it's kerching to everyone affected, which is some help to
their distress.
Now, more of a threat to this is 'nationalisation' - ie putting the DfT in outright control, which they basically already are but with a private
company offering them convenient cover in exchange for a minimal 'profit'. Today the DfT can give the TOC a kicking to tell them to fall into line.
The private operator doffs its cap and says 'yes master, no master' and does what the DfT commands as they pay the piper and the private company is paid to be the punchbag.
With the facade of the private company gone and operations taken in house, the DfT will be less mindful to give itself a kicking.
In particular watch out for downgrading of the service offered, ie not
full withdrawal but nibbling away at it.
Theo
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