Cumbria rail

County advice overview

Cumbria has several train stations which all have wheelchair access.

You can check access information at individual stations on the National Rail website.

Just type the name of your station (or 3 letter code if you know it) and you can find out detailed information for that station under the various headings.

You can call or text National Rail Enquiries to arrange passenger assistance.

• call 0800 0223720
• text 60083
• textphone or minicom users can dial 0845 60 50 600.

Key tips

Always allow yourself plenty of time to plan your journey. It may be worth considering:

• If you will need help to access the train and will you be travelling with mobility equipment. Consider whether it is easier to take equipment with you or hire it at your destination, from an outlet such as ShopMobility.
• Booking passenger assistance in advance. Before you contact the train operator to arrange this, consider all aspects of your journey so all the information can be obtained in one call. For example, can assistance be arranged for a connecting train service? Does your train have refreshments served if you are unable to easily reach a buffet car?
• When booking passenger assistance, you should be able to provide the size of a wheelchair or mobility scooter, including the total weight with or without the user.
• What local transport do you need once you arrive at your destination? Will you need to pre-book an accessible taxi?
• Will you be making this journey more than once a year? If so, it may be worth researching concessionary travel schemes.

Remember that your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service can signpost you to the correct travel operator and mobility organisations.

Regional Operators

Northern Rail

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

Trains run from Newcastle to a variety of destinations in Cumbria.

TransPennine Express

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/

Various destinations including local train stations in the Tees Valley area.

Avanti West Coast 

https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/

Various destinations along the west coast, including Carlisle.

ScotRail

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/

ScotRail operates various routes that travel through and stop at destinations throughout Cumbria.

Help with costs

Senior Railcard

A Senior Railcard is available to people over 60 and costs £30 for a year or £70 for three years. It gives a discount of 1/3 off rail journeys.

The Disabled Person’s Railcard

The Disabled Person’s Railcard costs £20 for a year and £54 for three years. It will entitle you to a saving of 1/3 off rail journeys.

You are eligible for the Disabled Person’s Railcard if you:

• receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at either:
  • the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or
  • the higher or middle rate for the care component
• have a visual impairment
• have a hearing impairment
• have epilepsy
• receive Attendance Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance
• receive War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
• buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme

Plusbus

PlusBus is a discount price travelcard for unlimited bus and tram travel around town, purchased with your National Rail train ticket. It can be used for commuting to work, shopping, visiting friends or a day-out in town. Ticket prices start from £2.50.

Special assistance

If you are travelling on National Rail, you can request an assistance booking in advance – now up to two hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. 

Passenger Assist is a national system used by all train companies, which allows them to make the necessary arrangements for your journey.

How it works

If you have a disability, non-visible disability, or are elderly, you can pre-book journey assistance to make sure you get all the help you need for your journey, including changes, and connections that involve other train companies.

You can also “turn up and go” without booking assistance in advance. If you require assistance at short notice, make yourself known to a member of staff or use a Help Point when you arrive at the station.

Book Passenger Assist via Network Rail

Contact: 0800 030 9224 

Lines open 24 hours a day (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Further booking details are available on the National Rail website.

Book Passenger Assist via individual train companies

Northern Rail

Northern Rail website

Contact: 0800 138 5560

TransPennine Express

TransPennine Express website

Contact: 0800 107 2149

Avanti West Coast 

Avanti West Coast website

Contact: 0345 528 0253 – option 3

ScotRail

ScotRail website

Contact: 0800 046 1634
Assisted travel textphone: 18001 0800 046 1634

Travelling with mobility equipment

The main train operators in Cumbria can carry manual or powered wheelchairs up to a maximum size of 700mm wide by 1200mm long and not exceeding a weight of 300kg including the passenger. 

There are a limited number of spaces available to wheelchair users on each train, so it is important that you book your space in advance.

The rules for mobility scooters are different for each operator, as detailed below.

Avanti West Coast 

You are able to travel on trains and use the wheelchair spaces, as long as a mobility scooter is within the size dimensions. (120cm long by 70cm wide and not exceeding a weight of 300kg, including the passenger.)

You do not need a permit to take a mobility scooter on an Avanti West Coast. However, some operators do require permits so please check with all train operators involved in your journey before travelling.

Northern Rail

Passengers can apply for a permit and their scooter will be assessed to ensure they are safe to be carried on board. Apply for a Northern Rail scooter permit.

TransPennine Express

You can take a scooter on a TP Express train, as long as you apply for a scooter card and your scooter is within the size dimensions (120cm long by 70cm wide and not exceeding a weight of 250kg, including the passenger). Apply for a scooter card.

If you do not have a scooter card, you can still take your scooter if it can be dismantled and is no bigger than an average large suitcase.

ScotRail

A scooter no greater that 104cm long and 56cm wide, with a combined weight of less than 300kg will be allowed on ScotRail trains. They can be used in a wheelchair space and the passenger must be able to be able to transfer on to a seat. The scooter will need to be relocated if a wheelchair is being used by another passenger.

If you are making a connection to an onward service with another operator, remember to check if you will need a permit for the connecting train.

Routes and timetables

Online journey planners can help you plan train travel locally in Cumbria and further afield. 

National Rail Journey Planner

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Trainline Journey Planner

https://www.thetrainline.com/journey-planner

Cumbria has several additional and scenic train routes which you may wish to explore:

• The Lakes Line from Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere.
• The Furness Line connecting Barrow-in-Furness with Carnforth and on to Lancaster.
• The scenic Cumbrian Coast Line from Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness.
• The Tyne Valley Line linking Carlisle to Newcastle passing through Hadrian’s Wall country.
• The Settle–Carlisle Line. 

Cumbria also offer various steam train services:

• Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
• South Tynedale Railway
• The Tyne Valley Railway
• The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway