A TRAIN company which ordered a disabled man off a train is “way behind” says a councillor.

Last month the Examiner carried the story of Clifford Rhodes, a 79-year-old from Hepworth, who uses a mobility scooter.

He and wife Joan went for a day out in Skipton with friends on July 17.

They caught three trains from Shepley to Skipton and one from Skipton to Leeds without a problem.

The three trains were Northern Rail services.

But Mr Rhodes was told he could not use a Northern Rail train from Leeds to Huddersfield because of his scooter.

Mrs Rhodes said they were ordered off the train by a conductor.

Holme Valley South councillor Nigel Patrick emailed Northern Rail on July 24 to complain about the treatment of Mr Rhodes.

Northern Rail customer relations officer Ann Rowley replied on July 30 saying the company couldn’t guarantee access to people on mobility scooters.

Clr Patrick was not impressed with the response. He said: “The Disability Discrimination Act gives bus and train companies until 2015 to make their services fully accessible, which is a ridiculously long time.

“However, most train companies have already done it.

“Northern Rail is way behind the other operators,” he added.

Carolyn Watson, media relations manager for Northern Rail, defended the company.

She said: “Northern is committed to improving access to our network and we are compliant with the Act.

“We have one of the oldest fleets of trains in the country and the terms of our franchise when it was awarded did not allow for the significant investment that would be required to replace these with new rolling stock that may better accommodate mobility scooters.

“Customers who use wheelchairs can access all our services. But the lack of common design of scooters, coupled with the diverse nature of our fleet, mean that our policy of allowing scooters only if they can be folded up and carried on board is necessary to ensure the safety of both users and other customers.”

Clr Patrick also emailed Metro, West Yorkshire’s public transport co-ordinating body, to complain about the treatment of Mr Rhodes.

Spokeswoman Helen Ford replied, saying it was satisfied with the way that Northern had behaved.

But Clr Patrick said: “I think it’s poor.

“Metro needs to put the customers first because it wouldn’t exist without them.

“The attitude I get from Metro is that they always back the operator. I don’t think Metro is fit for purpose.”

A Metro spokesman said: “While we understand that rail operators have guidelines to ensure the safety of scooter users and other passengers it is vital that their staff deal with any such situations positively and sensitively.

“As we have already explained in a letter to Clr Patrick Metro has sought assurances from Northern Rail that its customer care in terms of dealing with passengers’ individual needs, will be of the very highest standard in the future.”