Unsure about Rail Travel? Try a Train with South West Trains

Are you nervous about train travel? Was your last journey spent in a drafty guards van? Did you grapple with fiddly door locks and struggle to squeeze through narrow train doors?

If so, your last journey was probably about 10 years ago. Its time to have your world view updated! Designated wheelchair areas have banished guards vans. Push-button controls now open automatic doors on wide doorways. These are just some of the many features on trains and at stations that have improved rail travel for many customers with disabilities.

To publicise these improvements, South West Trains is holding one of its successful Try the Train days at Guildford Station. This is an opportunity for people with disabilities and people who care for people with disabilities to come and find out what train travel on South West Trains is all about.

"The aim of ‘Try the Train’ is to introduce train travel to disabled people who may not know the extent of the accessibility on the trains, and those who have not used the train before, " says Michelle Kynaston, Access and Integration Manager for SWT. "It will also provide a forum for those who regularly use accessible public transport to discuss their experiences with us.

"Managers and experienced staff will be at hand to provide information about rail travel, specific rail journeys, and all you need to know about getting assistance during journeys. There will also be an opportunity to experience train travel."

If you are interested in coming along you can contact Michelle Kynaston via e-mail mkynaston@swtrains.co.uk or telephone 07979 744815.

There are different sessions timed throughout the day and once you have expressed an interest South West Trains will be able to allocate the sessions accordingly.