Coach travel comes with specific limits for mobility scooter users. On National Express, a rider cannot stay on the scooter during the journey. This guide sets out what the operator’s published accessibility policy says, since other coach companies set their own rules and may differ.
The key rule: the rider cannot travel in the scooter
National Express states that customers cannot travel in their mobility scooters. Instead, it accepts small, lightweight scooters that can be safely stowed in the luggage hold of the coach, with the rider transferring to a normal coach seat (National Express, “Accessibility”). That contrasts with its policy for wheelchairs, which can be secured in the coach’s wheelchair space if checks are passed.
What makes a scooter suitable for the hold
According to the same page, a mobility scooter can be safely stowed in the luggage hold when all of the following apply:
- it can be folded and unfolded;
- if it cannot be folded, it can be dismantled and reassembled by the passenger or their carer or companion;
- the battery is a dry fuel cell, a gel fuel cell or a lithium battery;
- it has no assistance or auxiliary aids that would make it unsafe to stow; and
- the heaviest part weighs no more than 20 kg.
National Express adds that customers do not need to remove or do anything relating to the battery or power of the wheelchair when it is stored in the hold. The battery-type condition is worth reading closely: the operator names specific battery types, so the battery specification matters as well as the weight. Our guide to lithium-ion and lead-acid scooter batteries explains the difference between the types.
Who handles the scooter
Drivers and station staff will load and unload a scooter that meets the requirements, but National Express says they cannot assist with items over 20 kg, and its drivers and staff are unable to dismantle or reassemble mobility scooters. In practice that means the rider or a companion must be able to fold or take apart the scooter at the stop and put it back together on arrival. A scooter that needs two people and tools is unlikely to suit a coach journey.
Advance checks and the 36-hour recommendation
National Express recommends that a customer planning to stow a scooter in the hold books at least 36 hours before travel through its Assisted Travel Team. The team checks that the scooter, and any ancillary equipment, is safe for stowage. If booking is on the day or less than 36 hours ahead, the company says it will make all reasonable efforts to complete the checks in the time available. The team needs the size, make and model of the scooter. If a particular model has been confirmed as compatible before, the operator says that is stored on its database and can be reconfirmed quickly.
The Assisted Travel Team’s number is given on the page as 03717 818181, with lines open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. The page also states that it is not a requirement to book assistance in advance, though doing so helps the operator provide it.
Getting on board: the lift
Wheelchair access to National Express coaches is by a lift at the front of the coach. The page says all coaches in the fleet now have one. For passengers who cannot use the steps, National Express keeps manual wheelchairs in the luggage hold of each coach; the passenger is seated in one while the lift is used and can then transfer to a coach seat. The operator recommends the same 36-hour booking for this, because it needs to check that the stops involved are ones where the lift can be safely deployed and that there is space on the coach, although it says customers can turn up and travel without pre-booking.
Limits on the journey
The coaches are wheelchair accessible but the on-board toilets are not. National Express asks passengers to tell its Assisted Travel Team about any requirements when planning the journey, and says a passenger who needs the toilet can ask the driver to stop at the next available and appropriate station.
Discounts
National Express also sells a Disabled Coachcard, which its page says gives one third off travel all year round for an annual fee. The card can be bought through the operator’s Disabled Coachcard page.
Practical choices for scooter owners
- Folding or dismantling model: a travel scooter that folds is the only realistic option. Check the weight of its heaviest part against the 20 kg limit.
- Battery type: confirm from the manufacturer’s information whether the battery is lithium, gel or dry cell.
- Hire at the destination: where the scooter is too heavy or bulky, borrowing at the destination can be easier. Our guides to Shopmobility and to hiring a scooter cover the options.
- Train instead: rail policy differs, and our guide to taking a mobility scooter on trains sets out what applies there.
The bottom line
On National Express, a mobility scooter rider cannot stay on the scooter during the journey. Small scooters that fold or dismantle, use a dry cell, gel or lithium battery, and have no part heavier than 20 kg can go in the luggage hold while the rider sits in a coach seat. Staff cannot dismantle or reassemble it. Booking at least 36 hours ahead with the Assisted Travel Team lets the operator check the scooter, though same-day travel is attempted where possible.
Sources
- National Express, “Accessibility” (nationalexpress.com)