South Yorkshire trains opened up to mobility scooter users

Scooter users in South Yorkshire will be able to travel to and from 10 stations in the area and more across the Northern rail network using a new accessibility scheme.

After a successful trial, a scooter permit scheme has been rolled out across more than 100 stations.

Scooter-friendly stations include Adwick, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Dore & Totley, Sheffield and Wombwell.

Passengers can apply for a permit and their scooter will be assessed to ensure they are safe to be carried on board. Each user will be given a personalised sticker for their scooter or they can carry a card.

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Maxine Myers, accessibility improvement manager at Northern said: “More than 21 routes across our network are now scooter friendly - and more will be rolled out in the near future as we continue to make our trains and stations as accessible as possible for our passengers.

“We have been working with members of the Northern Trains Accessibility User Group to create a phased introduction of routes and stations where Northern can accommodate scooter users.

“Anyone who wants to bring their scooters on our trains should apply for a permit first so we can check it meets the standards that make it safe for us to take it on board.”

Application forms for scooter permits can be completed online here.

Steve Hopkinson, regional director at Northern, said: “We are committed to giving people with additional mobility needs the confidence to travel by rail.

“The mobility scooter scheme is an example of this commitment and we’ll be looking to deliver improved accessibility across our network as we roll out similar improvements at other stations in the future.”

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