Website of the UK government

National Rail

National Rail need advance warning if you 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 unmanned 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.

Intercity services

All intercity train services are wheelchair accessible. Access to the train is provided by a ramp kept at the station. 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 website Opens new window

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

• Eurostar website Opens new window

London Underground

There is information about the accessibility of stations on Transport for London's website.

• Transport for London - transport accessibility Opens new window

Train and station facilities

If you need assistance at the train station, contact either the station or the rail company before you travel and let them know what help you will 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. 

Many mainline train stations 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.

• RADAR shop website Opens new window
• RADAR toilets search on the Direct Enquiries website Opens new window

You can take support and 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. This could include, 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.