Disabled access at preserved railways

Aren't there some BR Mk.1 coaches which have disabled seating at the end? If so is it not possible for disabled people to use these and have the wheelchair travel in the luggage van for a journey? Or is it more fuss than it's worth?

I think the Project 62 group, while they have the right idea, haven't really got the ideal locomotive for disabled access. While the loco has a reasonable sized cab, it couldn't be described as big by anything over 8" tall. I also am doubting whether they have considered all the issues with wheelchairs on steam engines? If a disabled person is on the engine, and a tube bursts, then they're gunna come out pretty badly scalded. Whereas able-bodied crew can jump out the way, I'd like to see someone get a wheelchair off a footplate of a moving engine, without hurting anyone.

The East Somerset Railway isn't either brilliant or awful on the disabled access front. There is a ramp, admitedly fairly steep, from the carpark straight to the platform. Disabled people can be accomodated in the luggage areas of coaches which have them, as the cages have been removed. I think it was in 2005 there was a group of disabled people who visited the railway and seemed to enjoy themselves very much.

Cheers,
mendiprail

 

Depends on teh level of the disability. Some people have limited use of their legs others dont have any. My mum cannot walk at all so ideally prefers to stay in her chair, although she can transfer onto other seats if they are at a similar height. The problem with transferring onto mk1 seats is the armrest in teh aisle and teh width of the door from the vestiule. The gangway connection is usually wide enough but the internal doors aren't. Air-con mk2s and 3s are ok as long as tehre is a wheelchair space as they are different sizes

 

Yes it has. Kingston university students I understand was designing the lifts and ramps for this wooden framed and bodied coach, but in the end it was felt the lift would put too much strain on the body structure.

CCT MAN

 

We currently have a total of five coaches with easy disabled and bicycle access, two are saloons and the three others are semi-opens. Another saloon is undergoing conversion from the former power car of Silver Jubilee while another coach (the current mess coach for P-Way) is earmarked for conversion once a new mess coach has been constructed. The six Maxi coaches are also spacious enough to fit wheelchairs in their entrances.

Disabled passengers have priority seating in these vehicles and then ideally are given priority by the guard upon reaching their destination (i.e. he/she unlocks the doors or takes off the side panel to allow the wheelchair to be wheeled off onto the platform before the locomotive is dealt with).

We must be unique in having such a high ratio of wheelchair accessible coaches - if the above plans go ahead, then out of around 50 coaches, we will have 12 with disabled access in service on a high season week-day. (Another with access is the Special Saloon for hire parties). At other times, 99% of trains running will have at least one disabled coach.

Toilets, booking offices and platforms are all easily accessible for wheelchairs, even at the intermediate stations, however it is not advisable for wheelchairs or cycles to be carried to/from Miteside, Murthwaite or Fisherground Halts, as these have no platforms and a gap of about a foot between coach and ground.

 

Petros on the K&ESR has a built in ramp each side for access, a proper diasabled toilet with all the necessary modifications to corridors etc to allow wheelchair access between the toilet and the main part of the coach. The original seats in the passenger compartment have all been removed and replaced with loose seating, which can easily be removed to allow wheelchair users to sit with able bodied people at a table in any combination required. Unlike many disabled coversions, wheelchair users also have a wide choice of seating positions and can be seated next to a window to fully enjoy the view. Petros runs on pretty much every day that trains operate. Diasabled ramps are also available to allow access to the SECR Family Saloon on the vintage set and on the Class 108 DMMU.

 

Just to add to that, there are plans to reinstate the goods lift at Loughborough in the future, I keep hearing things about it, but nothing concrete. Also, I heard rumour that the steam heat vans recently arrived from Ireland might get converted into disabled coaches, likely to be a BSOD and a BRFOD*.

*I heard tell that it would go onto the dining train and be first class.

 

Gold Star in this category goes to Goathland Disabled Toilet project.

 

The LNER Coach association are working on converting a Gresley open third to provide disabled accommodation in the Gresley set. Its early days in the restoration process yet, but it is hoped that it will give disabled passengers a reasonable feel for the ambiance of a Gresley.

The Fairbourne Railway (12-¼" gauge) has recently introduced a disabled coach with accommodation for two wheelchairs.

 

Bit like the SVR Gresley Disabled coach, converted from a third open...

 

Excellent, but not quiet unique!

Out of the Bure Valley Railway's fleet of 25 20 seat coaches, six are wheelchair accesible, each comfortably carrying four occupied wheelchairs plus able bodied companions. Since the peak timetable normally only has two passenger rakes in operation (we have a "big engine, long train" policy), each rake will normally have three wheelchair coaches and perhaps six to nine conventional coaches

See http://www.bvrw.co.uk/visitors/disabled.asp for more details.

It's just as well that we introduced this design of wheelchair friendly coach BEFORE the disability access regulations, otherwise we would have had to carry on building the existing, earlier, non-wheelchair friendly design. Why?

My understanding is that the disability access regulations require new carriage designs to have a PA system, various illuminated devices (expensive) and a wheelchair acessible toilet (totally impractical in 15 inch gauge). To get even a temporary exemption requires a convoluted legal procedure culminating in a Statutory Instrument (same legal beast as a Light Railway Order or Transport & Works Act) from the Secretary of State!

A classic example of legislation achieving exactly the opposite of what was intended. I stand to be corrected on any of these points if there's someone more in the know about disability law out there...


David Lowe

Editor, "Bure Valley News" - but speaking only for himself.

 

See http://www.wsr.org.uk/wheelchair/ for my homespun website guide for wheelchair-bound visitors to heritage railways. It could do with an update - and I'm minded to limit the updates to our own experiences. But some on the list might be interested in our reviews of their railways

WSW
(Steve)

 

Hi all!

At the NNR both our main stock sets have disabled facilities, although not with toilets, but there is easy access to toilet facilities at all of the stations (at Sheringham the toilets are owned and operated by the Council). All trains should carry a folding ramp.
Please have a look at the facilities page on the railway's website for more details:

http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/facilities.htm

Following on from the content of WSW's web page, I can say that clamps are available, although from experience I have found that most wheelchair users are happy without them (but I offer them every time). Also the ramped bridge at Sheringham is a thing of the past. We have extended our run-round, and now access to Platforms 2 & 3 is by a foot crossing.

Cheers

ECS

 

Not a preserved railway, so slightly off topic I know, but at least I was able to help somebody.

A couple of years ago, I had an e-mail from a disabled lady who was travelling to Birmingham and was going to have to either change trains or catch a train at Ely. She must have searched on the internet & come across my site, which has a few photos of trains at Ely. Fortunately I could remember the layout of the station & was able to advise her accordingly.

I also searched on the internet for a way that she could double-check throught "correct" channels.

We have our uses.

Sharpo

 

Just to add to ECS's comments, over the last few years the NNR have really improved their facilities for the disabled. Our main sets include either a BSK or BCK with the luggage racks removed and seats for carers added, along with proper lighting and large windows. A couple of years ago we became overrun with bicycles and buggies which all used to get bundled in with any disabled passengers, so now in the peak season we run with a CCT wagon on each set. All bikes, buggies and other clutter is stowed in these, leaving the guard's van dedicated to disabled passengers.

We have installed disabled toilets at both Holt and Weybourne stations over the last 2 or 3 years and both Sheringham and Weybourne have easy access between platforms for wheelchairs (in Weybourne's case a barrow-crossing which can be used under supervision of station staff).

In the last few weeks our children's activity coach (a converted Gresley TK) has had the main entrance widened and a long ramp installed to allow disabled children access to this facility.

All the station buildings and the museum have easy disabled access, so hopefully we have done what we reasonably can to ensure our disabled passengers can enjoy their day out just as much as everybody else!

 

Fully Accessible in Leeds

Middleton is also fully accessible.

The new building was built to full DDA standards by law, including a lift to the first floor training room.

Our saloon coach has always has room for up to four wheelchairs since being built in 1990, whilst both railbusses also have full disabled access under RVAR.

The new platform even has the "lumpy tiles" for partially sighted people, which were fitted as standard, although there is not yet a requirement for them. We decided to do it as part of the revamp since in terms of the whole project, the cost was very little and the effect is encouraging for people with disabilities.

We also have an inductive loop at the booking office for the hard of hearing.

Ian Smith
Vice President, MRT

 

Just spent a week in Somerset, including riding the WSR, and can confirm that the disabled facilities on the WSR trains are well-used.

The large yellow ramps are in and out of the brake quickly and efficiently handled by two staff, and see considerable use. Our train from BL to Minehead had a party of disabled people in wheelchairs in the adapted brake coach, and at intermediate stations the ramp saw use by other wheelchairs, powered buggys and buggys for young children. On the return trip one chap trundled up the platform at Washford in a large electric buggy, and despite the limited manoevering space was soon on-board, and promptly dropped off again at Watchet.
Some of the platforms at intermediate stations are a bit narrow for such loading and unloading, but a helping hand from the staff soon gets things sorted.
Incidentally, every WSR staff/volunteer we came across was unfailingly friendly and helpful.
What a superb set of people down on the WSR!
46118

 

Thanks for the excellent postings on this thread. I hope my lad and I can visit some of you in the next year or so. I've decided to close the above website in due course and blog the family experiences (only) at http://heritagerailwaysandwheelchairs.blogspot.com/ I have made a start copying the relevant stuff over...

WSW
(Steve)

 

Although it isn't a preserved station as such I think they've done a wonderfull job at Birmingham Moor Street. The through platforms now have a real Great Western feel to them yet the Disabled Discrimination Act people were satisfied that everything reasonable had been done.

I'm told at one time they wanted the words on all signs to be one capital letter followed by lower case letters thus: - "Birmingham Moor Street" rather than the more typically Great Western "BIRMINGHAM MOOR STREET".

 

Isn't there a USA tank or something with modified cab to allow wheelchair users onto the footplate - or am I dreaming like usual!

 

There is a USA lookalike tank thing on the Mid Hants that is being converted to be able to be used by disabled persons.`