Lincolnshire rail

County advice overview

The main train operators in Lincolnshire are Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Hull Trains and LNER.

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.

If you are looking for information and advice about accessible train travel in Lincolnshire, the Hubs Mobility Advice Service can point you in the right direction.

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.

Operators

Cross Country 

www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

Cover Stamford (South Kesteven) with connections to the North, South and West of the country.

East Midlands Railway 

www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Liverpool to Norwich (via Grantham and Peterborough), Peterborough to Doncaster (via Lincoln), Nottingham to Skegness (via Grantham), Cleethorpes to Leicester (via Lincoln), Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber. 

Hull Trains 

www.hulltrains.co.uk

Hull to London Kings Cross (via Grantham).

LNER

www.lner.co.uk

Services between Scotland and London (including stops at Lincoln, Grantham and Peterborough).

Scenic Rail Britain 

www.scenicrailbritain.com/poacherline

Poacher Line (Nottingham–Grantham–Skegness). Further information about the Poacher Line: www.poacherline.org.uk/about/

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 Rail card

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

Special Assistance

If you are planning on travelling on National Rail services, you can request an assistance booking in advance – now up to 2 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.

You can request assistance either via the train company you are travelling with or nationally through Network Rail.

Book Passenger Assist through individual train operators

Cross Country

To book passenger assistance: call 0800 030 9224 or book online.

East Midlands Railway

To book passenger assistance: call 03457 125678, message on Whatsapp: +447501330988 or book online.

Hull Trains

To book passenger assistance: call 0800 316 1323, or use the text relay service 108001 0800 316 1323, or book online.

LNER

To book passenger assistance: call 03457 225225, or use the text relay service 18001 03457 225225, or book online.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Cross Country

Cross Country 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). 

However, when travelling with a mobility scooter, this must be folded and stowed in the luggage compartment.

East Midlands Railway

Trains can carry wheelchairs up to a maximum size of 700mm wide by 1200mm long and not exceeding a weight of 300kg (including the passenger). Powered mobility scooters are often unsuitable on the trains. You are only allowed to take an unfolded scooter onboard if you have a scooter card. 

You can apply for a scooter card if your scooter:

• Is three-wheeled or with a triangular footprint (front wheels close together)
• Is no more than 700mm wide and 1200mm long
• Weighs no more than 300kg, including passenger
• Has a maximum speed of 4mph
• Has a free-wheeling facility for use in case of power failure
• Has sealed batteries
• Is able to negotiate gradients of eight degrees or more

To apply for a scooter card, contact 0800 011 33 23.

Hull Trains

Provide designated, separate spaces for wheelchair users on trains. (One space in First Class and one space in Standard Class.) Maximum wheelchair dimensions: 70cm wide, 120cm long, 135cm high and weighing no more than 300kg.

Companion seats are as close as possible to the wheelchair user spaces. 

LNER

All trains have spaces for wheelchair users. The maximum wheelchair size is 120cm long by 70cm wide in both First Class and Standard accommodation.

If you use a mobility scooter and it is within the size dimensions above, you are also able to travel on the trains and use wheelchair spaces. Note that while you do not need a permit to bring a mobility scooter on an LNER train, some operators do require permits so check with all train operators involved in your journey before travelling.

A handful of the trains have a slightly different seating layout with the wheelchair space and accessible toilet being located in First Class rather than Standard.  If you have reserved a wheelchair space on one of these trains, or require a wheelchair space and one is available, LNER will upgrade you to First Class for free. The teams at the station can advise what type of train you are due to travel on.

Routes and timetables

Online journey planners can help you plan train travel locally in Lincolnshire and further afield:

• National Rail Journey Planner
• Trainline Journey Planner