Rules about Wheelchair spaces on trains?

[r3dh3d]

We were coming back from GOSH this evening, caught the 18:00 packed commuter train out of Waterloo. It was filling up and I spotted the wheelchair carriage and made a beeline for it to park DD1 while I still could. I got in to find the wheelchair space occupied with the South West Trains buffet trolley, with the brakes very firmly on and the chap running a busy bar with an obvious crowd of "regulars" vertical drinking in the surrounding area.

Now, I may have forgotten the exact words, (as I do at the best of times, let alone when cross) but the conversation went something like this:
me: "excuse me, can I get to the wheelchair space please?"
Buffet man: "there's another wheelchair carriage at the other end of the train, use that."
me: "this is a wheelchair. That is a wheelchair space. I'm coming through."
Buffet man: "well, there's no need to be rude!"
me: "????" (

either way, i would be writing a stiff letter, and expressing my displeasure. i would be formally asking them to review their procedures for the buffet trolley (most lines don't run them at peak commuter times), and asking them what their policy is with regard to wheelchair spaces and also their training with regard to rude staff.

put the ball in their court, so to speak.

i discovered by chance that if your child is a wheelchair user, gosh will send an ambulance for him/her. could be useful?

agree with madwoman, whatever the strict legal position that buffet man behaved dreadfully, so kick up a stink.

According to the Directgov website:

"Under the Disability Discrimination Act, train staff must make 'reasonable adjustments' to accommodate disabled passengers. This could include, for example, allowing you to travel in first class on a standard class ticket if the accessible toilet in standard class is out of order."

Moving a trolley would surely be covered by this. Definitely complain.

Go for it, get your complaints in with all guns blazing! Get a few free journeys out of it for being made to feel unwanted etc etc, lay it on with a shovel.

Three cheers for disability campaigning parents!!

(I find I need a bit of bolstering when I have to get my righteous complaints hat on)

(which is quite frequently)

well done r3dh3d for standing yr ground. Yes, agree that following it up formally would be a very good thing

You can complain, and if the train company are anything other than barking mad they'll apologise and give you free train travel, like, forever, for their employee being so inexcusably rude.

However, you can;t sue them under the DDA. You were able to complete your journey. The DDA doesn't say they can't serve drinks where they like. And it's not against the law to be an ass. Sorry.

I think you should complain. THe notices on trains (or the ones we use - not SWT) clearly state that the spaces are for wheelchair users and should be given up if a wheelchir user wants them

How obstinate telling you to drag the wheelchair through a busy train to the other end of it, when he only had to move his trolley up a few inches!

I'm not sure of legalities but I would be writing a strongly worded letter of complaint.

er, last three posters, this was several years ago - fatgoth bumped a really old thread.

settle!

Argh I have just realised this on another thread! Grr.... will be checking OP dates for the rest of the evening!

Sorry, I didn't realise.