The Ticket Collector

Blind man refused travel on ScotRail

A blind man was refused travel on the ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper on Tuesday 15th April because his dog might have had fleas, germs or even mites.

Mark McClenaghan said: “Well, basically, I turned up at the station, on time for the train. My blind pass doesn’t allow me through the regular ticket barriers, and so I have to wait for assistance, I have to wait for somebody to physically open the barrier at the side.”

He continued: “By the time I got through, the train was rolling out. I was then aware that there was a sleeper train leaving for Edinburgh, well, for London. I asked if I could board it and they said, ‘No, no dogs allowed.” I said, well, my pass covers me and my dog’s a guide dog and they said absolutely no dogs allowed, through possible risk of the dog passing on fleas or germs or mites, which is just absolutely ridiculous. I mean, she’s a certified guide dog with the Health and Safety Executive.”

“They left me stranded in Aberdeen with no route to Edinburgh. I then spoke to a station manager who was just an idiot. He questioned my disability. He asked if I was genuinely blind. You can tell my eyes look normal but it’s behind my eyes that’s gone. The only option was rather than spend the night in what effectively was a building site at the front of the station, was to jump on a train to Perth which is still about 50 miles to Edinburgh. And I had to get in a taxi costing me 95 quid.”

The official (not for public reading) rules on Guide Dogs on the Caledonian sleeper is as follows

Guide Dogs travelling with a blind or deaf traveller are conveyed free of charge with NO CLEANING CHARGE APPLIED.

TheTicketCollector is wondering why this man was refused travel with his guide dog when it clearly states in the retail handbook that they are conveyed free of charge. TheTicketCollector is hoping that the members of staff who refused this man travel get a Form 1 disciplinary hearing and get retraining in disability awareness.

A spokeswoman for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Emailed TheTicketCollector saying it was illegal to discriminate against guide dog owners. She said: “It is against the Disability Rights Act to refuse a guide dog access to any public place or public transport. Guide dogs and their owners should be treated the same way as any other user. All guide dogs are given a certificate of health and safety and do not pose any risk.”

We have emailed First Scotrail and a spokesman said: “We are investigating these claims and will respond direct in full to the customer. Our policy is to make services accessible to everyone, to provide all necessary assistance and to enable guide dog owners to travel safely.

“People with guide dogs are welcome on our services and they have Scotlandwide free travel at all times. There are clear guidelines in place and we expect these to be followed at all times.”