Travelling by train
Special arrangements
can be made for disabled or
mobility-impaired passengers when
travelling by train. For example, National
Rail staff can usually help passengers get
on and off a train.
National Rail
You need to give National Rail train
companies advance warning if you think
you'll need any assistance from staff -
ideally more than 24 hours' notice. This
is particularly important if your journey
includes getting on or off a train at an
unstaffed station.
Staff cannot lift disabled passengers
or heavy items like mobility scooters.
When booking your journey, give as much
detail as possible about your needs. For
services that offer seat reservations, the
local contact person can reserve a seat or
wheelchair space for you without charge.
To arrange a train journey in the UK,
or to book yourself a reservation on the
Assisted Passenger Reservation System,
contact National Rail Enquiries.
Telephone: 0845 7484 950
Textphone: 0845 6050 600
Mainline trains
On mainline (intercity, suburban and
cross-country) trains there is a space
designed for wheelchair users to travel in
safety and comfort. You must always use
this space and should apply your brakes
when the train is moving. If you use a
powered wheelchair, you should make sure
that the power is switched off when
travelling.
All intercity train services and most
other mainline services are wheelchair
accessible. Access to the train is
provided by a ramp kept either at the
station or on the train. Wheelchair
accessible sleeper cabins are available on
overnight trains between London and
Scotland but not on those between London
and the West of England.
Local and regional services
Most trains can accommodate wheelchair
users and new trains also have facilities
to assist sensory impaired people. For
example, public information systems that
are both visual and audible.
To arrange a train journey in the UK,
contact National Rail Enquiries.
Telephone: 0845 7484 950
Textphone: 0845 6050 600
National rail and the Disabled
People's Protection Policy
Rail companies must produce a Disabled
People's Protection Policy (DPPP). The
DPPP explains how the company helps
disabled passengers to use their stations
and trains. You can get copies of a
company's DPPP direct from the company.
Traintaxi
You can use Traintaxi to find out if
accessible taxis are available at a
station. Train taxi lists up to three
local taxi or cab firms serving each
station.
Travelling to Europe by train
Services operating from St Pancras
International in London and Ashford in
Kent are fully accessible to wheelchair
users. Two wheelchair spaces are available
in two first class carriages on each
train. Wheelchair users pay the lowest
available standard class fare. A companion
can also travel with you at a special
rate.
Telephone: 08705 186 186
email: sales.enquiries@eurostar.co.uk
Oxygen use on the train
If you need to use oxygen on the train
tell the rail company in advance. Then you
can get advice on where you can place your
equipment. Most modern portable equipment
does not cause a problem.
London Underground
There is information about the
accessibility of stations on Transport for
London's website.
Train and station facilities
If you need assistance at the
train station, contact either the station
or the rail company before you travel.
You'll need to tell them what help you
need.
Many ticket office windows have
induction loops to help people who have a
hearing aid. These windows are clearly
marked. Phones at many stations are also
fitted with devices to help people who
have a hearing aid. The 'Stations Made
Easy' tool on the National Rail website
allows you to plan a route around a
station and gives information
about available facilities.
Many mainline train stations have
accessible toilets. Some operate under the
National Key Scheme (NKS), which enable
disabled people to use accessible public
toilets independently by using their own
NKS key. You can buy an NKS key from
RADAR.
You can take assistance dogs into station
buffets and restaurants, as well as onto
trains, including buffet cars.
An
increasing number of trains have
wheelchair accessible toilets. You can
find out about the facilities on any train
when booking your ticket.
Under the Disability Discrimination
Act, train staff must make 'reasonable
adjustments' to accommodate disabled
passengers. For example, allowing you to
travel in first class on a standard class
ticket if the accessible toilet in
standard class is out of order.
