We want to welcome as many disabled and older guests as possible, however we are very mindful that there are additional considerations for safety and comfort when travelling on an overnight service. In turn, we take care to think through the consequences of a potential breakdown in a disabled or older person’s ability to access the service in the way that was expected.
As part of the journey planning and assistance booking process our Guest Service Centre will talk with you regarding:
- Accessibility of the stations you plan to use;
- Accessibility of our trains including rooms, toilets and shower facilities
- Staffing levels at the stations you plan to use
From these discussions, it might become apparent that we need to arrange alternative accessible transport for you at no extra cost, e.g. if you wish to use a station that is inaccessible to you (for example, because of stairs). Alternative accessible transport will take you between the inaccessible station and the nearest or most convenient one that is accessible to you.
When we organise rail replacement services because of planned or unplanned disruption, we draw on a range of suppliers to coordinate vehicles given the remote locations and night-time nature of our services. We will always ensure there is an accessible option for you. For this reason, we will discuss your needs before booking rail replacement, giving you the added choice to re-book your travel with us or explore other travel options based on your individual access needs.
We are aware that travelling long distances by road or staying in a hotel might be difficult for a disabled or older person. For this reason, we encourage you to contact our Guest Service Centre to discuss your needs in advance, our policy is to be open and transparent and to enable you to make informed decisions.
Please be aware that accessible taxis are usually unable to carry scooters and so we cannot guarantee the arrangements set out above can be offered to scooter users. If you are a scooter user, we will explore and discuss with you what options are available. This will include understanding if your scooter can be folded and whether your scooter can be safely secured in a vehicle under the manufacturer’s recommendations. If neither of these options are possible, we will work with you to look at alternatives e.g. support you to travel home (securing your scooter safely overnight) and arranging transport for you to collect your scooter the next day or as soon as practicably possible.