IMPROVED DEAL FOR THE DISABLED AMONG NEW RIGHTS FOR BOAT, BUS AND COACH PASSENGERS

A campaigning East Midlands Euro MP has welcomed a better deal for the disabled – part of a whole new package of improvements in the rights of passengers traveling on boats, buses and coaches.

Glenis Willmott and other Labour MEPs have backed proposals in Strasbourg this week which will give disabled passengers, and those with reduced mobility, important rights in terms of access to public transport services and the right to free assistance. No longer can disability be a reason for denying passengers the right to board, something MEPs have fought long and hard for.

Glenis explained. "The rights being proposed are similar to those already in operation in the airline industry. They will include compensation for people who face significant delays or cancellations when taking ferries or long distant coach services."

"There has been a steady improvement in the rights of people traveling across the EU, and the European Parliament is determined to ensure that passengers have adequate protection against excessive delay and cancellations when they are travelling around Europe. For my part I have actively campaigned to ensure that disabled passengers in particular also get a fair deal."

While MEPs have now come to an agreement which means that ferry passenger rights will come into force in 2012, further negotiations are still needed on passenger rights for bus and coach travel before they become a reality.