Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel

Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel

http://www.sagetraveling.com/Train

Overview of Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel

I am in a wheelchair…can I travel by
train? Absolutely!
And in many cases it is the most
accessible way to travel!

• That being said, some routes have multiple barriers to step-free travel.
• There could be steps to get to the platform you are departing from, steps
to get onto the train, no wheelchair accessible bathroom on the train,
and steps when you arrive at the station.

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though, I love to travel by train.

It is a relaxing, comfortable way to see
lots of the countryside.

• There is no traffic to deal with, roundabouts to master, or aggressive
drivers to avoid.
• You won’t have to deal with the hassles of a security checkpoint like you
do at an airport, and you can buy your ticket last minute without paying
an arm and a leg.


• Because many people bring bicycles and
strollers onboard, the setup is much
better than planes for bringing a
wheelchair onboard than for a plane.
• Many train stations are located in the
center of town so you don’t have to
take a taxi out to the airport.

• Space on the trains is at less of a premium than planes so there is much
more space to move around on a train than on a plane.
• You can stay in your chair or sit in one of the large seats.
• Some train cars will have tables that your group can sit at and there will
be food and drink onboard.
• Many trains will have a car or two with a wheelchair accessible toilet.


Finding train times
Regardless of which country you are traveling in, the German
Deutschbahn website is the best place to view train schedules:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de


Booking Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel
Booking a train ticket at the last minute won't cost you astronomical fees
like booking a plane at the last minute does. Nevertheless, you can save
some money by booking a train a week or so in advance. In addition, train
companies in some companies can require up to 24 hours advanced notice
to arrange for special assistance to help with wheelchairs or bags.


• Most of the time, when I arrive in a city by train I will book the departing
train ticket before leaving the station.
• You can also buy train tickets in advance by calling the individual train
companies using the links listed below.
• You need to be aware that buying a ticket does not necessarily reserve a
specific seat on the train, so be sure to ask that they reserve an
accessible seat for you.


Reserving a Seat
The wheelchair accessible spot may be in first class or second class. If there
is only a first class option, you will usually only have to pay for a second
class fare. This reduced price will apply to you and sometimes one other
person. The discount generally will not apply to the rest of your family
traveling with you.


At the Train Station
Train stations can be grouped into two types:
• stations where trains arrive in one end and depart from the other end,
• and stations that trains enter and exit from the same end (called
terminus or terminal stations).


The difference is important for people with disabilities, because
terminal stations will generally have step-free access to all platforms,
while stations where trains pass through may or may not have step-free
access to the platforms.
In pass-through stations there will either be
1) a tunnel going under the tracks that
can be accessed by an elevator or ramp,
2) a walkway going over the tracks that
can be accessed by an elevator or ramp,
3) a path at the end of the station where
wheelchair users, luggage carts, and
train company equipment can roll over
the tracks, or
4) a walkway or tunnel that can only be
accessed via stairs.


As you might expect, train stations in bigger cities are generally more
accessible than those in smaller towns.
• One of the reasons for this is that the bigger cities are more likely to have
terminus-style stations where all platforms can be reached without
having to climb steps.
• Additionally train stations in smaller towns may not have any personnel
to assist you.


• Many train stations have employees to help with your bags.
• When you book your ticket, you can request for assistance with your
bags (as well as assistance getting on and off the train).


Train Station Handicapped Accessibility
You can look at a train station on Google Earth or Google Maps to
determine if it is a terminus-style station or not. In the bigger train stations,
the trains pull in and out of the station in the same direction. In these
stations, you will almost always be able to reach the platform
because there are no train tracks to cross to exit the station (although you
may still need help to actually get onto the train). They will look like this:


The other type of stations have train tracks leading out in both
directions. They look like this:


These train stations may or may not be
good for wheelchair accessible train
travel. If they are not accessible, you will
get off of the train and you will need to
take a flight of steps down from the
platform, then a tunnel going under the
tracks, then a flight leading up to the
station.
• If they are accessible, there will be an elevator to lead into the tunnel, or
you can go to the end of the platform where a ramp will lead to a paved
path that they use to transport baggage across the tracks.
• The elevators might be freight elevators that require a key.
• When you buy your ticket, be sure to let them know where you will be
getting off and they can have someone waiting who will provide
assistance with ramps, wheelchair lifts, and/or elevator access.


While on the Train
• Trains are not identified by train numbers, rather they are identified by
the city that then end in.
• Thus in order to know what train to get on, you not only need to know
the place you are getting off, you also need to know the place the train
ends (known as the terminus or terminal).

• While on the train, keep track of
where you are so that you make sure
you don’t miss your stop.
• When you pass through a city, there
will be a large sign facing the train
with the name of the station.


Spaces where you can stay in your wheelchair are generally near an
accessible toilet. If you do not book one of these spaces but have
difficulty walking, you may want to request a seat near the bathroom
rather than in the middle of the car.

• At some point in your journey, a train
employee will approach you to check
your ticket.
• When you are crossing the border into a
new country, you will not need to get
off the train.
• Instead, staff members will walk
through the train while it is traveling
near the border to check passports.


Disabled Train Travel Links by Country
Austria http://www.oebb.at
Belgium http://www.b-rail.be
Bulgaria http://bdz.creato.biz/en/tpl
Czech Republic http://railpassenger.uic.asso.fr
Denmark http://www.dsb.dk/
France http://mission-voyageurs-handicapes.sncf.com
Germany http://www.bahn.de/
Italy http://www.trenitalia.com
Luxembourg http://www.cfl.lu
Netherlands http://www.ns.nl
Northern Ireland http://www.nirailways.co.uk
Norway http://www.nsb.no
Poland http://railpassenger.uic.asso.fr

Disabled Train Travel Links by Country
Portugal http://www.cp.pt
Republic of Ireland http://www.irishrail.ie
Slovenia http://www.slo-zeleznice.si
Spain http://www.renfe.es/gsf/index.html
Sweden http://www.sj.se
Switzerland http://mct.sbb.ch
UK http://www.nationalrail.co.uk
Eurostar http://www.eurostar.com
Attica (Greece-Italy, Finland Germany, Scotland-Belgium)
http://railpassenger.uic.asso.fr
Thalys (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands) http://www.thalys.com
Lyria (France, Switzerland) http://www.tgv-lyria.com
Train maps http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps.php

We look forward to making your accessible dream vacation a reality!

Call Us: 1-888-645-7920

Contact us at info@sagetraveling.com

http://www.sagetraveling.com/Train

Wheelchair Accessible Train Travel

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