East Sussex rail

Overview

Southeastern and Southern Railway operate in East Sussex. 

It is advisable to always check accessibility information before you travel, as well as any changes to routes or timetables. 

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

Southeastern and Southern Railway also provide details for access and facilities at each station.

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 Southeastern or Southern Railway to arrange this, consider every aspect of your journey so all information can be obtained in one call. For example, are all your stations accessible? Can assistance be arranged for a connecting train service? 
• What local transport do you need on arrival 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.

Operators

Southeastern

https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

Contact: 0345 322 7021 or southeasternrailway.co.uk

For information regarding Southeastern and accessible travel, use this link.

Southern Railway

https://www.southernrailway.com

Contact: 03451 27 29 20 or southernrailway.com

For information regarding Southern Railway and assisted travel, use this link. 

Help with cost

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.

Further information regarding concessionary travel cards on East Sussex trains can be found via the website links below.

• Railcards | Southeastern 
• Railcards | Southern Rail
• Types of Railcard | Prices | National Rail – Railcard
• UK Digital Railcards for £30 | Buy Online with Trainline (thetrainline.com)

Special assistance  

Passenger Assist

Southeastern and Southern Railway are part of Passenger Assist – a national system which all train companies support. 

If you have a disability, non-visible disability, or are elderly, you can request assistance for journeys on the Southeastern and Southern Railway networks and where you are connecting with other operators.

You can ask for assistance at any point during your journey. 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. However, to make sure staff are available to help you, it is recommended you book at least 2 hours in advance of travelling.

You can book Passenger Assist either via individual train operators or nationally through National Rail.

Book Passenger Assist via National Rail

Contact: 0800 030 9224 
Lines open 24 hours a day (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

Booking details are available on the National Rail website.

Book Passenger Assist via Southeastern

Contact: 0800 783 4524
The Southeastern Passenger Assist team is available 24 hours a day, every day, except Christmas Day. 

You can fill out an assisted travel webform online.

Book Passenger Assist via Southern Railway

Call 0800 138 1016 or text: 0800 138 1018.

You can fill out an assisted travel webform online.

You can also use the Passenger Assistance app by Transreport, if you have a smart phone.

Should you wish to contact other operators directly, the contact details are available on the National Rail website. 

Passenger support at stations can include: boarding ramps for wheelchair users, a guiding arm for visually impaired passengers, induction loops, support tools for hidden disabilities and travel support cards.

Southeastern and Southern Railway provide Priority Seating Cards for anyone who needs to sit down while travelling by train. For instance, if you are elderly, disabled, pregnant or have difficulty standing.

There are also Travel Support Cards for people with non-visible conditions, who may require additional support.

You can find information regarding these support cards on the webpages below.

• Travel Support | Southeastern
• Priority cards | Southern Railway

Travelling with mobility equipment

Southeastern

Wheelchair spaces on Southeastern trains cannot be reserved. (However, if you are travelling with a long-distance operator, you are advised to ask about reserving a space as these trains are often busy and allow wheelchair spaces to be booked.)

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters up to 1200mm long and 700mm wide are accepted and they can travel in a designated space.

Train to platform boarding ramps are available on Southeastern trains. There is a weight restriction of 300kg for the user and wheelchair/ scooter combined.

Permits for mobility equipment are not required, but there are restrictions on the type of scooters that can be used.

Southeastern has produced a downloadable wheelchair and scooter guide which will provide you with detailed information.

Southern Railway

You can bring a manual or electric wheelchair, or a mobility scooter onto Southern Railways trains – if they meet the size criteria below. Wheelchair spaces are available within standard class accommodation only. 

Folding/collapsible scooters that can be stored in luggage racks, can be carried on any type of train.

Ramps are available to help you on and off trains at step-free stations and on most trains. 

There are restrictions on the size and weight of mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Larger mobility scooters and wheelchairs may not fit safely onto ramps or into the accessible spaces on trains.

Dimensions should be no more than:

• Width: 700mm
• Length, including footplates: 1200mm
• Weight, including your weight: 300kg
• Height: 1350mm
• Have a turning radius of no more than 1500mm

For further information, Southern Railway has produced a wheelchair and scooter guide, which can be downloaded here.

You can find out about accessibility on Southern Railway platforms Train Station Information | A-Z of Train Stations | Southern Railway.

Routes and timetable links

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

Southern Railway

Planning your Train Journey | Southern Railway. 

Southern Railway provide a free app for tailored, live information and nationwide journey planning. 

Southeastern

Purchase tickets, view live trains and service disruptions.

The Southeastern app can be used for tickets and journey planning. You can create an accessibility profile for faster Passenger Assist bookings.

The Trainline website also provides national train times and timetables for Southeastern.

National Rail

National Rail provide a journey planner.

Trainline

Trainline provide a journey planner.