Buss Pass

GlasweJen

Being disqualified from driving alone isn't good enough for a disabled rail card, I need to send my DLA letter off when I renew the rail card but the snippy letter from the DVLA is sufficient for the bus pass (I send my DLA letter in so that i get the companion supplement though).

Humphrey10

GlasweJen wrote: »

Being disqualified from driving alone isn't good enough for a disabled rail card

It is if you have epilepsy, I has assumed it was the same for anyone not allowed to drive but looking at the eligibilility criteria I see I was wrong. Why aren't other people barred from driving on health grounds by the DVLA but not claiming benefits not allowed a railcard too? I really don't understand their reasoning.

jetta_wales

Humphrey10 wrote: »

It is if you have epilepsy, I has assumed it was the same for anyone not allowed to drive but looking at the eligibilility criteria I see I was wrong. Why aren't other people barred from driving on health grounds by the DVLA but not claiming benefits not allowed a railcard too? I really don't understand their reasoning.

Because a train isn't comparable transport to a car I guess and if you can get the bus pass then there should be no need unless you have greater mobility problems which would then entitle you to DLA. Just surmising.

Savvy_Sue

GlasweJen wrote: »

Being disqualified from driving alone isn't good enough for a disabled rail card, I need to send my DLA letter off when I renew the rail card but the snippy letter from the DVLA is sufficient for the bus pass (I send my DLA letter in so that i get the companion supplement though).

Humphrey10 wrote: »

It is if you have epilepsy, I has assumed it was the same for anyone not allowed to drive but looking at the eligibilility criteria I see I was wrong. Why aren't other people barred from driving on health grounds by the DVLA but not claiming benefits not allowed a railcard too? I really don't understand their reasoning.

jetta_wales wrote: »

Because a train isn't comparable transport to a car I guess and if you can get the bus pass then there should be no need unless you have greater mobility problems which would then entitle you to DLA. Just surmising.

The requirements for getting a disabled railcard bear no relationship to the requirements for getting a disabled bus pass - there is no way I'd get the bus pass or any disability benefits, but I am eligible for the railcard.

My theory is that the railcard is nothing to do with the government, and everything to do with the rail companies making more profit. The concessions which I mentioned above, for those who travel in wheelchairs and with sight problems, seem to be the 'statutory' provision. The disabled rail card sits alongside the young person's railcard, the senior railcard, and the family railcard. There is no legal requirement to offer any of these, but by doing so the rail companies encourage people to make more train journeys.

BTW, just to make it clear, there is a charge for all the railcards. AFAIK those of you who get bus passes don't have to pay for them, do you?

sunnyone

Just incase some wheelchair users dont know you can get up to 50% off walk on train prices for both yourself and a carer without having a railcard.

This consession is for wheelchair users only, it dosnt matter if you are part time but you must stay in your wheelchair throughout the journey.

kingfisherblue

I didn't know that sunnyone - my son is a wheelchair user. having said that, the disabled person's bus pass on Merseyside can be used on trains and ferries within the county (and just outside it) as well as on buses.

Savvy_Sue, no, i don't pay for my son's disabled person's bus pass, but if it is lost, there is a £10 replacement fee.

sunnyone

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I didn't know that sunnyone - my son is a wheelchair user. having said that, the disabled person's bus pass on Merseyside can be used on trains and ferries within the county (and just outside it) as well as on buses.

Savvy_Sue, no, i don't pay for my son's disabled person's bus pass, but if it is lost, there is a £10 replacement fee.

It might come in handy to know in the future if you are elsewhere and its the same on all rail operators, I didnt pay for my replacement bus pass when I lost it and you would have though with it being a national scheme it would be the same everywhere.

kingfisherblue

Very handy for the future - thank you. Did you know that you can ring a station the day before and request a porter to help you as well? This is even if you have a carer with you, and it is a free service. I have had help with getting my son off the train, over to another platform, and onto another train before now. For me, having another child (who was about five at the time) it was a valuable service, especially as the first train was late and there wasn't much time to get across the station to our connection.

I love MSE. Despite the arguments that can occur, there is always someone who is willing to share some information that can help to make people's lives easier. Such information, freely given, can make a big difference to others. I'm sure I'm not the only person who is grateful to Sunnyone for the above information.

carlislelass

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Very handy for the future - thank you. Did you know that you can ring a station the day before and request a porter to help you as well? This is even if you have a carer with you, and it is a free service. I have had help with getting my son off the train, over to another platform, and onto another train before now. For me, having another child (who was about five at the time) it was a valuable service, especially as the first train was late and there wasn't much time to get across the station to our connection.

I love MSE. Despite the arguments that can occur, there is always someone who is willing to share some information that can help to make people's lives easier. Such information, freely given, can make a big difference to others. I'm sure I'm not the only person who is grateful to Sunnyone for the above information.

the.porter we had also took us to the taxi rank, don`t know if they all do or we were just lucky

sunnyone

As long as Im 30 minutes early the staff at the station are more than willing to help me with the trains, for safety reasons no one else can can use the ramps and its always handy to have them shift people from the wheelchair spaces or if the trains crammed get you into the first class wheelchair space which the train managers permission.

I wish buses were as wheelchair friendly as trains, I cant even catch a local bus because the 20 year old reamps are broken and screwed down yet the rolling stock is often older on the trains but they can still accomadate me and without the black looks and munbling.