Essex rail

County advice overview

Essex has an extensive rail network. Most services are provided by Greater Anglia or c2c. Some areas of West Essex are covered by Transport for London. 

There are frequent services into London from all over Essex as well as to parts of other counties including Suffolk, Norfolk, and Hertfordshire.

The Passenger Assist service support passengers with a disability to travel safely. Detailed information can be found here.

Key tips

When planning a journey by rail, you may want to consider:

• Where the nearest train station is and how you will get there
• Which train operator you will be travelling with and whether they have any specific guidance for travelling with mobility equipment on their trains
• If the train stations and platforms are accessible. This information can be found on the National Rail website.
• Booking outside of peak times (if possible) as this may improve your comfort if the train and platform is less crowded. Greater Anglia can help you with this here.
• If you require passenger assistance (This can be booked via individual train operators, National Rail, or by using the app)
• Using a travel card to reduce travel costs (if eligible)
• How you will travel to your onward destination after your rail journey. (For example, will you need to book an accessible taxi or catch a bus.)
• Arranging scooter/electric wheelchair breakdown cover if you intend to travel with one, for additional reassurance 

Operators

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia website

Provides services to many destinations in and around Essex, with many journeys into London. 

c2c

c2c website

c2c services 26 stations in East London and South Essex. 

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 Persons 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

Senior Rover Ticket

• Over 65’s can purchase a Senior Rover Ticket and travel off-peak between any c2c station (excluding c2c stations within zones 1-6).

Special assistance

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

You can request assistance either via the train company you are travelling with or nationally through National Rail. Pre-book or simply ‘turn up and go’ without booking in advance. 

To pre-book via National Rail contact: 0800 0223720

You can also download the passenger assistance app.

To pre-book via individual train operators in Essex:

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia website

Contact: 0800 028 2878
Text Type: 18001 0800 028 2878

C2C

C2C website

Contact: 03457 444 422

Sunflower Scheme

The Sunflower Scheme is an additional passenger assistance scheme for passengers with non-visible disabilities. Passengers can wear a sunflower lanyard if they wish, to indicate to staff that they may need additional assistance. 

You can purchase a lanyard here.

Travelling with mobility equipment

All train operators in Essex 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.

As there are a limited number of spaces available to wheelchair users on each train, it is important that you book your space in advance. However, the rules for scooters are different for each operator.

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

Trains can carry scooters up to a maximum size of 700mm wide by 1200mm long and not exceeding a weight of 300kg (including the passenger).

Greater Anglia Trains

• Trains can accommodate wheelchairs with dimensions, 700mm x 1200mm and a weight of 300kg (including customer) and some wheelchair spaces are available.
• Scooters of the same dimensions are accepted, although passengers are advised to transfer into a seat and fold the scooter where possible. 
• Greater Anglia new trains have spaces in carriages that are clearly marked on the outside of the train. Wheelchair spaces are available within standard class accommodation only.

c2c

• These trains can accommodate wheelchairs with dimensions, 700mm x 1200mm and a weight of 300kg (including customer).

Routes and timetable links

Traveline can help you plan your journey and find train times and operators.