ScotRail has reduced the amount of time required to arrange assisted travel for disabled passengers.

Previously, disabled passengers and people with reduced mobility were required to book assisted travel at least three hours in advance.

However, the move will allow customers to book at least two hours in advance of travel.

When journeys go beyond the ScotRail network and involve the use of other train operator services, ScotRail asks customers to book their journey 24 hours before travelling so that notice period requirements can be met.

A person in a wheelchair
Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility will now be able to book assisted travel at least two hours in advance (David Jones/PA)

ScotRail’s free assisted travel service is open to anyone who would like more support when travelling on one of its trains – from wheelchairs and prams to customers with visual impairments or large items of luggage.

The train operator said the change would help provide greater flexibility to passengers looking to make trips at short notice.

ScotRail’s access and inclusion manager, Andrew Marshall-Roberts, said: “We’re committed to making the railway accessible for all and the assisted travel service is just one of the ways we’re doing this.

“We aim to provide assistance to anyone who needs help when travelling on our network, whether this has been booked in advance or not. By reducing the notice period to two hours, customers now have more freedom to plan spur of the moment trips.

“Over the past year our hardworking colleagues have enabled over 250,000 assisted journeys – making sure that people who need a bit of help to travel receive it.”