Wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments now have improved access to National Express services thanks to a specially developed coach.
The vehicle, the first of its kind in the world, boasts an NX Magic Floor wheelchair lift which has gone on trial on routes in the UK before going into full service in 2006.
National Express claims the bespoke-built vehicle is the first fully accessible coach in the UK and has been described by a leading transport magazine as “the holy grail of wheelchair transport and the solution which will lead the way for the industry”.
Bill Cahill, Operations Director for National Express said, “Finding a solution for our disabled customers has been a project of great magnitude for a large team of people at National Express.
“In order to offer the same high standards to customers in a wheelchair as we offer to others, we needed to find a solution that would enable the customer to board safely and with dignity. “
The project was a collective effort by National Express; Midlands based company, Passenger Lift Services (PLS); Volvo in Warwick; Salvador Caetano in Portugal and the Mobility and Inclusion Unit of the DfT.
Since 2003, National Express has operated an accessible scheduled coach service on the Bath-Chippenham-Swindon-Heathrow Airport-London Victoria route using a vehicle with a lift mounted on the middle of the coach
This started as a trial in conjunction with the DfT, and aimed to set the standard for future travel provisions for wheelchair users throughout the UK, but it was discovered this solution was not the answer to meet customers' needs.
The company recognised it would instead need to develop a coach with a streamlined lift mechanism incorporated into the passenger entrance.
National Express operates an award winning* Disabled Person Travel Helpline (DPTH), which assists customers who require special travel arrangements when making journeys with the company. This could range from troubleshooting a particular issue, through to suggesting appropriate journeys that may suit an individual's needs or requirements.
The DPTH is based in the National Express Contact Centre and assists disabled customers between 08.00hrs-20.00hrs, seven days a week via phone (0121 423 8479), fax (0121 454 8052), textphone (0121 455 0086) or e-mail DPTH@nationalexpress.com.
*RNIB Simply the Best Awards 2005