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West Midlands trains
County advice overview
The West Midlands rail network is one of the biggest outside of London, with local and national destinations including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Scotland and Wales.
You can find train information on the Transport for West Midlands website.
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).
Key tips
When planning a journey by rail, you may wish to consider:
- Which train operator(s) you will be travelling with and whether they have any specific guidance for travelling with mobility equipment on their trains
- Booking outside of peak times, if possible, as this may improve your comfort if the train and platform are less crowded
- If you require passenger assistance and does this need to be booked in advance
- 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?
- If your journey involves making one or more changes, it is sometimes cheaper to buy multiple tickets for each leg of the journey, rather than one ticket between the station of departure and final destination.
Operators
Train operators in the West Midlands include:
West Midlands Railway
London Northwestern Railway
www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
CrossCountry
Avanti West Coast
West Midlands Metro (Tram operator)
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.
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 National Rail.
Book Passenger Assistance via National Rail
Contact: 0800 022 3720 or text 60083
Lines are open 24 hours a day.
You can also book via a new app which allows you to request assistance using a smartphone. You receive a confirmation email once your request has been checked and confirmed. Passenger Assistance by Transreport page.
Book Passenger Assistance via individual train companies
CrossCountry
Contact: 0800 030 9224
West Midlands Railway
Contact: 0800 024 8998
Avanti West Coast
Contact: 08000 158 123
London Northwestern Railway
Contact: 0800 024 8997
West Midlands Metro
For guidance and advice regarding tram and station accessibility, contact:
0345 835 8181 or customerservices@westmidlandsmetro.com
Travelling with mobility equipment
Train operators in the West Midlands 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 permit for the connecting train.
West Midlands Railway
Passengers are welcome to travel with their mobility scooter. However, where possible, you are requested to transfer to a seat onboard for your own safety. Scooters which are larger than the sizes detailed above can be carried if folded and stored as luggage. Further information can be found on their website.
CrossCountry
When travelling with a mobility scooter, this must be folded and stowed in the luggage compartment.
Avanti West Coast
All trains have dedicated spaces for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. These spaces are next to an entrance door and near to an accessible toilet and the on-board services team.
London Northwestern Railway
information. Where possible, you are asked to transfer to a seat onboard. Larger scooters can be carried, if folded and stored as luggage.
West Midlands Metro
There are two dedicated spaces on every tram with a help button and a stop request button at an appropriate height. This is signposted in Braille. All trams are low floor with priority seating for older and disabled passengers.
You are able to travel with a mobility scooter on the tram services; however, a permit is required. To apply for a permit, contact 0345 835 8181.
Further accessibility information regarding the West Midlands Metro can be found on their website.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcomed on trains, free of charge, and can travel in any part of the train.
Routes and timetable links
You can find help with planning your journey, train times and operators on the Transport for West Midlands website.
You can also check train times, ticket prices and routes on the websites below.
National Rail
Trainline
In addition to finding train timetables and buying your ticket, the Trainline website will give you information on live train times, including real-time journey and platform information with live train tracking. You can also check which trains are faster, and which stations they are stopping at.
Traveline
You can plan local or long-distance journeys by bus, coach or train and check timetables with Traveline.
Traveline is a public transport information and journey planning service and is a partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring you routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach and ferry and to provide it in as many different ways as possible.
You can use Traveline to plan your journey and find timetables, before you travel or during your journey. Contact Traveline: 0871 200 22 33
Disclaimer
Any advice or information given by the Hubs Mobility Advice Service is impartial and correct at the time it is provided. However, as operators may change their services or equipment prior to your journey or booking, you are strongly advised to check any details directly with them shortly before you expect to travel.
Contact your local Hub
Get in touch with the Central England Hub for personal mobility advice and accessible travel information. Your Hub can help with local, national and international accessible travel advice.