Wheelchairs & Scooters
Travelling with a wheelchair
Most trains can accommodate wheelchairs that are within the dimensions prescribed in government regulations covering public transport (700mm wide, 1200mm long). There are a small number of older trains that can only currently carry wheelchairs that have a maximum width of 670mm.
The maximum combined weight of a person and their wheelchair that can be conveyed is limited by: the capabilities of the individual member of staff assisting the passenger and the stated maximum safe working load of the ramp (between 230kg and 300kg).
There are a limited number of spaces available to wheelchair users on each train, we therefore recommend that you book your space in advance.
For more information on using a wheelchair on public transport see the guide "Wheels Within Wheels" produced by Ricability, the independent consumer research charity. To order a paper copy, send a large self-addressed envelope with a 66p stamp to: Ricability 30 Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT.
Powered scooters
Because scooters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, many have problems on trains, including: tipping backwards on ramps; being heavier than the ramp’s safeworking load; or being the wrong shape to manoeuvre safely inside a carriage.
These problems mean that some companies have trains that cannot carry scooters. So if you are a scooter user who wants to travel by rail, you should contact the train company to check they can safely accommodate your scooter. Details of each train operator's scooter policy can be found on the powered scooter section of the National Rail website.
