 |
| ScotRail staff refused to help Nino |
A teenager with Disabilities was distraught after a ScotRail employee refused to create a ramp for him to board a train.
In wheelchair Nino Zavaroni, who has cerebral palsy, sought help when he arrived at Glasgow Central Station.
He asked a railway worker to put a ramp at the train door, but was surprised when the man refused - despite standing next to one.
Nino says the employee ScotRail said: "No, you're not going. You must book 24 hours in advance."
He then insisted on wheelchairs must also become at least five minutes before the trains leave.
Nino, 17, lives in Rothesay on Bute and explained that he had to make a final run for the train last Monday after ferry services were changed that day.
But the stubborn ScotRail worker showed no sympathy.
Nino said: "I could not believe the way I was being treated. He was just the most horrible face and there was no way I was on the train.
"My mother and my father was with me and so my father struggled to raise me to the train. But I have an electric wheelchair, which is very heavy.
"It was only when my father saw a guy struggling and helped me get on board.
"When I got on the train I felt terrible, like I had done all and my mother was very upset. It would have taken two seconds to put the ramp as the guy was standing next to him."
Nino and his parents were visiting Glasgow as the teen should move there. They had been enjoying a meal together when Nino got a text saying that the ferry services had been interrupted. Thus, the trio went to the station.
Nino said: "If the policy of the ScotRail is really for people with disabilities to reserve 24 hours in advance, so I guess so wrong.
"You never know what will happen on any day and we were in a rush to get home unexpectedly."
Richard Hamer, director of disability charity Capability Scotland, said: "The case of Nino is distressing, but unfortunately very common.
"While people who are not disabled can just show up and get a train.Disabled people should book assistance in advance. Nino How discovered to his cost, there is little flexibility in the way support is provided.
"This is simply unacceptable. Capability Scotland wants the Scottish Government to ensure whoever wins the ScotRail franchise when it is re-tendered, fails to provide travelers with disabilities a second-class service."
ScotRail advising passengers with disabilities assistance to book in advance.
But a spokesman said: "Even when customers do not book wheelchair assistance before traveling, our staff are trained to apply common sense and help whenever possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment