Guide Dogs Finally Granted Permission to Ride London Overground Trains

In March this year Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, Caroline Pidgeon contacted the Mayor's office at City Hall, to request allowing guide dogs access on moving escalators and tubes.

On the 23rd March 2011 Caroline Pidgeon raised the issue with the Mayor at Mayor's Question Time, a webcast can be seen here.

Boris Johnson expressed his support for the campaign, replying personally to Ms Pigeon, in his letter dated 13th June 2011, he said: "Transport for London (TfL) has been working has been working with the Department for Transport for some time on updating the bylaws, including the changes that will allow guide dogs to use the escalators on the network."

Thankfully now these plans have been approved and from today (Wed 5th October), visually impaired and other disabled people with trained assistance dogs will be allowed to take guide dogs on moving escalators legally for the first time on the Tube, DLR and Overground trains.

Commenting on the successful campaign Ms Pidgeon said: "The ban on visually impaired people being able to take guide dogs on to moving escalators on the Tube and other parts of London's transport network was outdated and wrong. There is clear evidence that trained guide dogs and other assistance dogs can safely use moving escalators. Having campaigned on this issue I am delighted that this change is finally taking place."

The new plans mean it is now even more important for all train, tube, DLR and Overground stations, to be made fully accessible to people with disabilities, wheel chair access is critical, especially at Crystal Palace train station, which presently has two flights of steep stairs and no lift. 

This is obviously not acceptable and I really hope that some of the profits made from the fourth year of transport price hikes, will be spent on a much needed upgrade for our beloved train station, in time for the arrival of the Olympic Brazilian team and the hundreds of spectators we are expecting to arrive at the National Sports Centre.