New "Disability Transport Regulations" came in to force today making it illegal for transport operators to discriminate against disabled customers. The new covers customers of trains, buses, coaches, taxis, vehicle rental and breakdown services, and makes it unlawful for a person to be treated less favourably because of a disability; most commonly be being offered a lower standard of service than that provided to able-bodied customers.

Nearly a third of all callers to the Equality Commission enquiry line last year made a complaint about the treatment of disabled persons by transport operators.

Evelyn Collins, The Equality Commission's chief executive, said the new regulations would "make a positive and practical contribution to enabling disabled people to realise new opportunities for work and leisure that may not have been open to them before". She also added that her organisation gets "more calls about disability discrimination than anything else".

Nearly a third of all callers who contacted the commission's enquiry line last year made a complaint about the issue.

The largest provider of public transport in Northern Ireland, Translink, said it welcomed the regulations. Chief executive, Catherine Mason, said: "We work closely with a range of organisations including disabled groups in order to better understand the needs of all our customers."

Translink identified its Ulsterbus and Goldline coach services as needing upgraded to meet the new regulations but advised that they were currently taking delivery of "60 new fully accessible Ulsterbus vehicles".

If you have been the victim of discrimination and require legal advice contact Wilson Nesbitt solicitors in Belfast at 0800 840 9295 or by emailing email@wilson-nesbitt.com .
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