Cheers. Yes agree with you. The only thing is when some companies implemented the ability for wheelchair spaces to be booked direct online, a number of non-disabled people booked the spaces for their luggage and legroom, making them unavailable for wheelchair users. As ever, the selfishness of the few… I think it shouldn’t be beyond the ability of systems designers to enable a permissions-based system for confirmed wheelchair users to book spaces direct, but then it is the railway we’re talking about here and the systems are huge, unwieldy and immutable. I know it’s VTEC’s intent to make this possible, however.

I mention this because there would seem to be no reason that this same facility could be applied to the seat ‘number’ allocated to the wheelchair space, and thus a wheelchair user could check and reserve the space on the train on the day of travel, with perhaps a pragmatic detail of Scotrail making sure there is a clear listing (& on-line facility) to identify stations where a staff presence (dispatchers, floor walkers etc) covering the times when an on-spec traveller might need an arm or sensory assistance, or a ramp to get on or off a train. With the development of twitter coverage it may equally make sense for the social media teams to have a basic protocol for a concerned traveller with a mobility limitation to send a hastag format – perhaps #Assistance #Guide (or #Ramp or whatever the need might be) #Station (perhaps the 3 letter code? especially for those who might find extensive typing a problem) #TrainID #Carriage (optional).

I find that many of the social media teams have come on impressively in the way they can provide assurance to a concerned passenger (and even supply fresh toilet paper when you finish and find its run out!). Let’s keep building on this.

PS I had an operation on both feet back in 1986, when there were hardly any wheelchair spaces on trains, yet my work involved a lot of moving around, and this was tiring and most impractical for using crutches (both feet remember), so I travelled Edinburgh-Glasgow frequently. No ramps, no one to get you and the chair on/off the train, far fewer dropped kerbs. Guys it was an education, but by the time the bones had set I could manage the 1:12 ramp from platform level to Waverley Bridge without having to stop for recovery on the way up. But those basic NHS/Red Cross wheelchairs leave a lot to be desired.

Have a great time. Orkney is great, and the Orcadians lovely people. We’ll need plenty of photos. x

thanks! September 11th. I have both distilleries on Orkney booked in 🙂

When are you heading north Doug? Hope you have a really great time, and remember if it rains, you don’t go to Scotland for the weather, you go for the whisky which needs the water from the rain…….

Cheers Harry. Actually they do now have first class on many of their services – just not for wheelchair users!