The railways of Britain welcome disabled travellers and are committed to making widespread improvements to stations and trains to make travel easier. Many of the companies operating train services produce their own guides for disabled travellers. If you require more information contact your local train operator. Train services and details of how to make reservations are given in Passenger Timetables available from most staffed stations and rail appointed Travel Agents. Copies of Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers are available from most rail stations.
Planning Your Journey
Whenever possible please inform your local rail contact point, 48 hours in
advance, of your travel plans so that arrangements can be made for you to
have as comfortable a journey as possible. You may do this by writing to
your local rail manager at your departure station or telephoning your local
contact point. Arrangements can usually be made for staff to meet you at
your departure and destination point. At many stations, staff can arrange
to provide portable ramps for wheelchair users. In other cases, lightweight
portable ramps are carried on the train. Manual wheelchairs and powered
wheelchairs up to a maximum width of 67cm and a length of 120cm can be
conveyed on all trains subject to availability of space. Powered scooters
cannot be conveyed on all services. Details can be obtained from the
relevant train company.
Regrettably, rail staff, whilst happy to assist in any reasonable way they
can, cannot lift disabled passengers between wheelchairs and
cars/trains/train seats or up and down flights of stairs.
Crossing LondonStationlink
London Transport operates a fully accessible, low floor Stationlink bus
service between the following London stations: Waterloo, Victoria,
Paddington, Marylebone, Euston, St. Pancras, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street,
Fenchurch Street and London Bridge.Airbus
In addition, Airbus services from Kings Cross, Victoria, Euston and
Paddington stations to Heathrow Airport (serving all terminals) are
accessible to wheelchairs.
For details of the above services contact:
Transport for London Access and Mobility Unit
Windsor House
42-50 Victoria Street
LONDON SW1H 0TL
Tel: 08705 747777A useful publication entitled Access to the Underground is available from
TfL Access and Mobility
Tel: 020 7941 4600
Taxis
There are many taxis accessible to wheelchair users in service in London.Thameslink
This train company operates direct trains from the East Sussex
area to the North, which may eliminate the need for you to change trains
and stations in London.
RailcardsAn adult Disabled Persons Railcard offers a third off the cost of most
types of ticket and if an adult is accompanying, they too can travel at the
same reduced fare. Train operators are required to issue and accept Young Persons, Senior and Disabled Persons Railcards. Train operators also provide Family, Network and other cards under voluntary arrangements.
Current arrangements will continue for the London Travelcard and an
inter-operator scheme has been established to manage the London
Concessionary Travel Scheme.The customer telephone helpline for enquiries regarding a railcard application/renewal is:
Tel: 0191 269 0303
Minicom: 0191 269 0304
National Rail Enquiries
For general rail enquiries:
Tel: 08457 484950 (local charge rate)
For Connex Rail Customer Services, including travel assistance for
customers with special needs:
Tel: 08706 030405
Website: www.connex.co.uk
EurostarEurostar is the new fully wheelchair accessible train service linking
Waterloo International to Paris, Brussels, Calais - Frethun and Lille Europe.
All tickets must be booked in advance, for full details of services available:
Tel: 08705 848848.Eurostar tickets may be booked on:
Tel: 08705 186186
Contact details:
Customer Relations
EUROSTAR
Eurostar House
Waterloo Station
London SE1 8SE
Tel: 020 7928 5163
