Yorkshire rail

County advice overview

East Midlands Railway and Northern Railway operate in Yorkshire. Both operators have Passenger Assistance Teams who can support and advise you, if you have a disability or reduced mobility.

Services include: 

  • Assisting passengers to get on and off trains and within the station 
  • Helping passengers to transfer between different trains
  • Helping passengers access concessionary travel and fare reductions
  • Booking the most convenient train seats

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

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

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? Is your destination station, wheelchair accessible?
  • 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

East Midlands Railway (EMR)

www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Northern Railway

www.northernrailway.co.uk

Special Assistance

If you are planning on travelling with National Rail, 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.

Booking 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 through individual train operators

East Midlands Railway (EMR)

You can book assistance up to 2 hours before you travel, but East Midlands Railway recommend booking in advance if you can. If you have not pre-booked, speak to staff on board the train or at the station.

You can book online or via a smartphone app. Or by calling EMR. (You will be able to book tickets and reserve a seat or wheelchair space at the same time.)

Contact: 08000 11 33 23 or EMR Customer Service Centre: 0345 712 5678 (7 days a week.)

WhatsApp: 07501330988.

Further details regarding Passenger Assist can be found on the EMR website.

Northern Rail 

Book passenger assistance with Northern Rail, where possible, at least two hours in advance for same day travel. Bookings can be made online, by calling, and via a smart phone app.

Contact: 0800 138 5560 (Text Relay 18001 0800 138 5560).

The Assistance Team are available 6.00am – 11.00pm, 7 days a week (excluding Christmas Day). 

Further details regarding Passenger Assist can be found on the Northern Rail website.

Northern Rail offers a Priority Seat Card to passengers with visible and invisible disabilities and use of the Sunflower Lanyard. For details, contact Northern Rail on 0800 200 6060 or email enquiries@northernrailway.co.uk

Help with cost

Disabled Person’s Railcard

For passengers with a disability, the Disabled Person’s Railcard gives up to a third off most rail fares. Your travel companion, may also be eligible for a reduced fare.

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

You can find more information on the East Midlands Railway website. 

Further details regarding the Disabled Person’s Railcard.

Senior Railcard

For passengers over 60, the Senior Railcard gives you a discount of up to a third off most rail tickets. 

You can find further information on the East Midlands Railway website. 

Further details regarding the Senior Railcard.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs

East Midlands Railway recommend reserving your seat or wheelchair space before you travel. Contact: 08000 11 33 23. (Reservations can be made until 11:59pm the day before travel.)

  • Wheelchairs should be no larger than 700mm wide and 1200mm long, and weigh no more than 300kg, including the passenger.

Northern Rail advise that manual and powered wheelchairs can be taken on all trains, but some stations may be inaccessible. Call the Passenger Assistance team to check on 0800 138 5560 or use the online form to book assistance.

Mobility Scooters

East Midlands Railway will allow an unfolded mobility scooter on trains, if you hold a Scooter Card. Contact 08000 11 33 23 to apply. 

Further information, including scooter dimensions, can be found on the East Midlands Railway website. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/trains-stations/assisted-travel

Northern Rail will allow a mobility scooter, if you have applied for and received a permit. If your mobility scooter meets the requirements, you will be sent a personalised card and a sticker that must be displayed on your scooter, before you travel. 

Northern Rail recommend you book travel in advance but will always try to accommodate you, space depending. Book via the Travel Assistance Team: 0800 138 5560.

Northern Rail have produced a mobility scooter guidance booklet containing size dimensions and how to apply.

Assistance dogs

Are welcome to travel on trains, free of charge. Passengers should inform East Midlands Railway (EMR) that they have an assistance dog when booking a train ticket. EMR can then reserve an appropriate seat.

Routes and timetables

Online journey planners can help you plan your route and train times.

East Midlands Railway 

Journey planner, route map, seat finder.

Northern Rail

Journey planner, timetables, travel updates.

National Rail Journey Planner

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk

Trainline Journey Planner

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

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 Yorkshire Hub for personal mobility advice and accessible travel information. Your Hub can help with local, national and international accessible travel advice.