Ms Anne Graham:

As we indicated, there is a space restriction because a bus is a certain size and there is only a certain size available for the wheelchair space. There is also a gangway to get to the wheelchair space.

All we have said is that a ramp, especially a mechanical one, has a weight limit, as any mechanical equipment would, and that includes wheelchair lifts. If they are used on the high-floor coaches, they definitely have a weight restriction and may not be suitable for larger and heavier wheelchairs.

The Senator was asking about planning a journey. We are very aware we have to improve not only the fleet and the services but also the information that is given to allow somebody who is a wheelchair user to plan a journey. Our current app does not provide that kind of information, but it is our ambition that the TFI Live app will be updated in order that people will be able to identify how they can get from A to B if they are a wheelchair user and the most appropriate service to use. We are also improving our customer contact centre and hope to provide a new contact centre covering all our services - rail, bus and Local Link - and that service will be available to anyone who needs a little more information on how they can get from A to B. We hope to appoint a contractor to provide that service and to get it up and running towards the end of next year.