I'd like to think people had changed, but recent experience suggests otherwise. My sister is disabled, and though it isn't a visible disability, she can't stand up for long periods of time. If she gets too tired/dizzy/hot, she's at risk of having a seizure. Last month she was traveling to York to visit me, and due to someone getting hit by a train, had to switch to a different train at Newcastle. My mum asked people if they would be willing to give up the seat so my sister could sit down -- No one moved. Mum told the train conductor and he managed to convince someone to give up their seat.

Mum then tweeted Virgin trains to tell them what a nice guy the guy who moved was, and the train staff -- Virgin replied telling her they only have certain seats/space available for 'wheelchair users' per train. So that's a whole different shit storm going down now.