Press Release - News - Translink - Protection - Disability
Translink Welcomes New Protection For People With Disabilities
4th February 2010:
Translink today welcomed new protection for people with disabilities using transport services, announced by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive, Translink said, “We work closely with a range of organisations including disabled groups in order to better understand the needs of all our customers. Over recent years we have invested heavily in our people, fleet and stations and now our services are more accessible than ever. Moving forward, we will continue to work closely with the Equality Commission and other key disability organizations.”
ENDS
All media enquiries contact:
Ursula Kelleher, Translink PR Officer, on tel. 07786 884024.
Notes to Editors:
- All NI Railways trains are fully accessible and in Belfast all main Metro routes have low floored easy access. Most Ulsterbus town services are also operated with low floor buses and some Goldline Express coach services are now fully accessible with a low floor ramp or passenger lift. Translink is currently taking delivery of 60 new fully accessible Ulsterbus vehicles.
- The Translink NI Railways modern C3K train fleet also includes a range of additional accessible features: passenger ramps, dedicated wheelchair user space, braille signage, audible and visual passenger information, accessible toilets, emergency call buttons. 20 new C4K trains are also due to start arriving in 2011 and each will be fully accessible. The station enhancement project, which began in April 2007, included a wide range of facility and service improvements along both the Bangor – Portadown and Larne – Londonderry railway lines. Work included the installation of new shelters, lighting, seating and signage as well as platform resurfacing and additional refurbishment work including new ticket counters. A number of stations were also installed with ramps, lifts and accessible toilet facilities in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
- All new Translink vehicles meet the latest accessibility standards including low floor ramped access, dedicated wheelchair space and priority seats. Printed timetables and Translink website also indicate which routes are accessible.
- Translink provides wheelchairs and scooters in the Europa Buscentre, Great Victoria Street Train Station and Enniskillen Buscentre. Shopmobility users require photo id or a Shopmobility card with address details. For further information call 9080 9091.
- Translink timetables are available in alternative formats on request from the Translink contact centre on 9066 6630. The Translink website www.translink.co.uk can also be accessed with Browsealoud. The RNID Typetalk system can be used to contact local bus and train stations. Textphone users dial 18001 followed by the full telephone number.
- Translink encourages eligible disabled passengers to use either the half-fare Smartpass or the Senior Smartpass/60 Smartpass offering free travel to seniors who are 60 or over. Passes are issued on behalf of the Department for Regional Development. Call 9066 6630 for further information.
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