Noticed this on the Nexus website's live travel news scroller whilst looking something up.
Related thread(s):-
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13042
Mobility Scooters now banned from use on Metro trains
All mobility scooter use has been banned on the Tyne and Wear Metro following a series of accidents in which users and other passengers could have been killed or seriously injured.
The ban, imposed by Metro operator Nexus, comes into force from the start of service on Wednesday, 27 August 2008.
It brings Metro into line with other rail and light rail operators, including Northern trains, Manchester Metrolink and Birmingham Metro in restricting scooter use for safety reasons. The Department for Transport is also considering the future use of mobility scooters on the railway network.
The new rule contained within Metro’s Conditions of Carriage extends a restriction on unaccompanied scooter use imposed in April this year to include all scooter use on Metro stations and platforms.
Manual and powered wheelchairs, and lighter scooters carried folded, are not included in the ban.
The ban follows a detailed risk assessment by health and safety staff, with the assistance of scooter user organisations. The findings have been passed on to Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate.
Nexus will review the rule in six months, to take account of work it is doing to reduce the risks associated with scooter use on Metro.
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “If a scooter fell onto the Metro line and was hit by a train then not only would its user probably be killed or seriously hurt but so would perhaps dozens of people on board the train, if it came off the line. That risk is not acceptable.
“There is also a danger passengers standing in the path of a scooter could be injured as it boards the confined space of a train.
“Our first responsibility is to protect the safety of all our passengers. Mobility scooters are vehicles designed to drive on urban roads, not confined spaces like station platforms and trains. All rail operators restrict mobility scooter use to some extent and many already ban their use.
“This won’t be popular with mobility scooter users, but it is the right thing to do. We have to consider safety first and sometimes that means making difficult decisions. Our decision is based on thorough understanding of the danger.”
Nexus estimates there are between 200 and 300 scooter users who regularly travelled on Metro prior to April.
It has begun work with passengers to identify and provide alternative travel to Metro, including Nexus services LinkUp and TaxiLink, and community travel schemes it funds.
There have been four accidents in the last 15 months in which scooters weighing up to 80kg have fallen onto the railway line. In each case investigations found the cause to be user error.
Two of these involved scooters crashing through Metrocar doors after failing to stop whilst boarding trains. On two other occasions scooters drove off platforms.
On each occasion there was a danger that an oncoming train striking the scooter could have been derailed, putting at risk passengers on board.
The assessment just completed identifies particular risk associated with the stopping distance of scooters compared to the width of Metro trains.
It notes that there are no national rules or laws regarding licensing or training for scooter users.
In April Nexus began a series of work programmes aimed at reducing the risk associated with scooter use on Metro.
These programmes include developing a training course users might ‘pass’ before being allowed on Metro, identifying whether some models of scooter posed less risk, and examining modifications to track, stations and trains.
Nexus will review its decision in six months to test whether any of these actions or others would reduce the risk to a tolerable level.
Recent accidents involving mobility scooters:
21st May 2007 a woman drove her scooter onto a train, failed to stop and proceeded through opposite doors, landing on the track at Brockley Whins. An approaching train was forced to brake to avoid a collision.
27th September 2007 a woman drove her scooter down a ramp leading to the platform but overshot the platform and proceeded onto the track at Byker;
24th April 2008 a gentleman drove his scooter onto a train, failed to stop and proceeded through the opposite doors landing on the track at Howdon; An approaching train was at the opposite platform, less than100 metres away.
28th June 2008 a gentleman failed to manoeuvre his scooter correctly on the platform resulting in him driving off the platform and landing on the track at Byker. The gentleman was travelling alone despite a ban on unaccompanied travel.
Examples of regulation by comparable rail and light rail operators:
West Midlands Metro: Scooters are not allowed within byelaws due to scooter design, difficulty in manoeuvring and unsuitability for use in a vehicle.
Manchester MetroLink: Mobility scooters are not permitted, though electric wheelchairs are.
Sheffield Supertram: Discourages mobility scooter use on trams.
Northern Trains (local, suburban and regional trains in north of England): Mobility scooters are not allowed, though lighter models may be carried folded.
Related thread(s):-
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13042
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Mobility Scooters now banned from use on Metro trains
All mobility scooter use has been banned on the Tyne and Wear Metro following a series of accidents in which users and other passengers could have been killed or seriously injured.
The ban, imposed by Metro operator Nexus, comes into force from the start of service on Wednesday, 27 August 2008.
It brings Metro into line with other rail and light rail operators, including Northern trains, Manchester Metrolink and Birmingham Metro in restricting scooter use for safety reasons. The Department for Transport is also considering the future use of mobility scooters on the railway network.
The new rule contained within Metro’s Conditions of Carriage extends a restriction on unaccompanied scooter use imposed in April this year to include all scooter use on Metro stations and platforms.
Manual and powered wheelchairs, and lighter scooters carried folded, are not included in the ban.
The ban follows a detailed risk assessment by health and safety staff, with the assistance of scooter user organisations. The findings have been passed on to Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate.
Nexus will review the rule in six months, to take account of work it is doing to reduce the risks associated with scooter use on Metro.
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “If a scooter fell onto the Metro line and was hit by a train then not only would its user probably be killed or seriously hurt but so would perhaps dozens of people on board the train, if it came off the line. That risk is not acceptable.
“There is also a danger passengers standing in the path of a scooter could be injured as it boards the confined space of a train.
“Our first responsibility is to protect the safety of all our passengers. Mobility scooters are vehicles designed to drive on urban roads, not confined spaces like station platforms and trains. All rail operators restrict mobility scooter use to some extent and many already ban their use.
“This won’t be popular with mobility scooter users, but it is the right thing to do. We have to consider safety first and sometimes that means making difficult decisions. Our decision is based on thorough understanding of the danger.”
Nexus estimates there are between 200 and 300 scooter users who regularly travelled on Metro prior to April.
It has begun work with passengers to identify and provide alternative travel to Metro, including Nexus services LinkUp and TaxiLink, and community travel schemes it funds.
There have been four accidents in the last 15 months in which scooters weighing up to 80kg have fallen onto the railway line. In each case investigations found the cause to be user error.
Two of these involved scooters crashing through Metrocar doors after failing to stop whilst boarding trains. On two other occasions scooters drove off platforms.
On each occasion there was a danger that an oncoming train striking the scooter could have been derailed, putting at risk passengers on board.
The assessment just completed identifies particular risk associated with the stopping distance of scooters compared to the width of Metro trains.
It notes that there are no national rules or laws regarding licensing or training for scooter users.
In April Nexus began a series of work programmes aimed at reducing the risk associated with scooter use on Metro.
These programmes include developing a training course users might ‘pass’ before being allowed on Metro, identifying whether some models of scooter posed less risk, and examining modifications to track, stations and trains.
Nexus will review its decision in six months to test whether any of these actions or others would reduce the risk to a tolerable level.
Recent accidents involving mobility scooters:
21st May 2007 a woman drove her scooter onto a train, failed to stop and proceeded through opposite doors, landing on the track at Brockley Whins. An approaching train was forced to brake to avoid a collision.
27th September 2007 a woman drove her scooter down a ramp leading to the platform but overshot the platform and proceeded onto the track at Byker;
24th April 2008 a gentleman drove his scooter onto a train, failed to stop and proceeded through the opposite doors landing on the track at Howdon; An approaching train was at the opposite platform, less than100 metres away.
28th June 2008 a gentleman failed to manoeuvre his scooter correctly on the platform resulting in him driving off the platform and landing on the track at Byker. The gentleman was travelling alone despite a ban on unaccompanied travel.
Examples of regulation by comparable rail and light rail operators:
West Midlands Metro: Scooters are not allowed within byelaws due to scooter design, difficulty in manoeuvring and unsuitability for use in a vehicle.
Manchester MetroLink: Mobility scooters are not permitted, though electric wheelchairs are.
Sheffield Supertram: Discourages mobility scooter use on trams.
Northern Trains (local, suburban and regional trains in north of England): Mobility scooters are not allowed, though lighter models may be carried folded.
