More travel - rail

alice_RNIB said on 2013/03/07 at 4:41 pm

The national rail network has a service dedicated to passengers that have a disability which might make their rail journey difficult. Arranging assistance or using a disabled Persons Railcard can take the hassle out of a journey. Can you recommend the services to encourage other users? Do you have any hints to make a journey from the local station easier?

If you aren't a regular train traveller or know someone who isn't and would like to be, order your free travel pack today by calling our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk. http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/travel/Pages/travel.aspx

sawb said on 07/03/2013 at 4:41 pm

Since 2000, it has been a legal requirement for all refuribhsed or new build trains to be RVAR compliant. (Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations). So, in a nutshell this means:

All doors on trains must be wide enough to take wheelchairs, and all toilets (on trains which have toilets, some don't) must now have doors and bathrooms wide enough/large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

So far as we visually impaired are concerend, all trains must have both visual and audible announcements.

Bear in mind that this only applies to NEW BUILDS and REFURBISHED trains. Not all trains that were introduced pre-2000 (of which there are a significant number still running on the national rail network) have as yet been refurbished to make them RVAR compliant. In the majority of cases (but not all) programs to make train fleets RVAR compliant have been suspended until further notice by train operating companies, who are citing lack of money as the reason. Would have they would save money in the long term in not running the risk of being prosecuted, but there you go.

Neil said on 01/03/2013 at 11:09 am

My tip is if you don't use trains much or haven't used them in a long time and need to get to an important appointment you could do a trial or dummy run of the trip to get familiar with stations, etc. The downside is the extra cost depending on how far you're travelling.
Regards
Neil