Stephen Magee, 47, reported feeling "humiliated" after being denied boarding a train with his mobility scooter, a situation that has limited his ability to travel to Belfast and Londonderry. Magee stated that he uses the train approximately once a week, preferring it to driving due to challenges in finding suitable disabled parking spaces in city centers to load his scooter.
Magee recounted an instance where he was unable to attend an event in Belfast because he could not find adequate parking, forcing him to return home. He described the difficulty in finding accessible parking in Belfast, citing instances where spaces are occupied by delivery drivers or individuals without blue badges, making city center accessibility "almost impossible."
The train, he explained, normally offers a less stressful travel experience. Magee expressed that being unable to travel by train exacerbates his existing health issues and prevents him from engaging in enjoyable activities. He noted that he had previously used an older mobility scooter without incident, but his new one was deemed too large.
A spokesperson for Translink, the transport operator, explained that since 2023, the company has implemented an independent mobility scooter assessment scheme. This scheme was developed in collaboration with Disability Action and the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC). Translink stated it works closely with IMTAC and other disability organizations.
The spokesperson indicated that the assessment scheme was introduced to ensure a "consistent, robust and safety-focused approach" to determining if mobility scooters can be safely transported on Translink services. While Translink does not comment on individual cases, they confirmed that all applications undergo the same independent evaluation process. Safety for passengers and staff remains the company's highest priority.