Journey after foot operation

[soup6]

A friend has to travel unaccompanied next week between London and Devon and, following a foot operation, has to keep one foot raised (above knee level) during the journey. Any suggestions as to how this might be practical by rail? Possible destinations are Axminster or Tiverton Parkway and boarding/alighting should be OK, it's the journey itself that presents a problem.

 

[EssexGonzo]

One would have to say that this appears to be almost impossible using any form of public transport and also rather difficult using personal transport such as a car.

The only think I can think of would be to reserve and pay for two seats opposite each other and rest the foot on the opposite seat? But the TOC may not be happy with this.

Or how about using a wheelchair with one of those extending foot rests and booking the wheelchair space (assuming there is one).

But I would still get someone to give me a lift in a car!

 

[TheEdge]

Wheelchair is probably the best (only?) way of doing it. A phone call to the TOCs customer service line might help when it comes to reserving an opposite seat but I doubt it.

I can't think of anywhere where you could easily sit stretched out like that.

 

[DarloRich]

Such a journey will be hard by any form of transport especially if the leg has to be in the position suggested by the OP

I might be tempted to contact the TOC directly the only issue is that the FGW customer service line tends seems be off shore and poor. Would a visit to the ticket office be a better bet?

 

[soup6]

Thanks for your ideas and help. I had considered the reserve-two-facing-seats route but the earlier thread about bags on seats had put me off. In the old days, a solution would have been to take the sleeper to Exeter (when there were dedicated Exeter coaches - I can remember this) and this may still be the best solution albeit arriving at Exeter at 3am is not ideal.
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Update: First Great Western have come up trumps and booked my friend into the seat facing the wheelchair space. They say his luggage can be piled into the wheelchair space so that the leg can be elevated and they won't book a wheelchair into that space. I'm impressed.

 

[EssexGonzo]

What a great result, well done FGW!

 

[Be3G]

In the old days, a solution would have been to take the sleeper to Exeter (when there were dedicated Exeter coaches - I can remember this) and this may still be the best solution albeit arriving at Exeter at 3am is not ideal.

I'm glad FGW have managed to find a good solution, but I thought I'd just point out for others looking that whilst the sleeper arrives at Exeter at 3am, it sits there for an hour or more after that so it's possible to glean slightly more sleep.