Many months ago I asked First Scotrail if their prohibition on "motorised" cycles included ebikes and suggested they should make clear that it does not. I have now received an email to the effect that they will officially permit the carriage of EAPCs, and will be amending their brochure in the next few months.
The decision-making process took so long because they have to consider health and safety, as well as disability, issues, and included a viewing of one of our Mistrals and one of our motorised Dahons at Waverley station. They were concerned that EAPCs might be longer or wider than pedal cycles, and would thus impede the progress of, for example, disability aids. Then, I suppose, in our fractured railway system, they had to consult other operators, etc. The other concern was leakage from batteries, but I was able to reassure them that all EAPC batteries are gel or paste based as well as being contained in sealed containers.
We now have a useful precedent to put before other train operators, and they should, relying on the First Scotrail assessment, be able to give a speedier answer to a similar query.
The decision-making process took so long because they have to consider health and safety, as well as disability, issues, and included a viewing of one of our Mistrals and one of our motorised Dahons at Waverley station. They were concerned that EAPCs might be longer or wider than pedal cycles, and would thus impede the progress of, for example, disability aids. Then, I suppose, in our fractured railway system, they had to consult other operators, etc. The other concern was leakage from batteries, but I was able to reassure them that all EAPC batteries are gel or paste based as well as being contained in sealed containers.
We now have a useful precedent to put before other train operators, and they should, relying on the First Scotrail assessment, be able to give a speedier answer to a similar query.
