Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what expectation they have for train operating companies and ticket websites to provide information to passengers using mobility scooters about their use of a pass policy for the scooter, either when wheelchair seats or passenger support is booked.

Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road.  An ATP sets out, among other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.

The guidance states that operators must set out their policies regarding the carriage of mobility scooters and other mobility aids for mobility-impaired people on their trains. Operators must make the reasoning behind their policies clear, particularly with regard to any policy excluding the carriage of some or all mobility scooters and mobility aids.

We would expect all customers purchasing a ticket that require assistance to complete their journey to be directed to the Passenger Assist Scheme.