County Durham rail

County advice overview

County Durham has several train stations which all have wheelchair access.

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.

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

Regional Operators

LNER

https://www.lner.co.uk/

Regular services are provided along the east of the country.

Cross Country 

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/

Various train destinations throughout the country and Northumbrian destinations between Newcastle and Hexham.

Northern Rail

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

Trains run from Newcastle to a variety of destinations.

TransPennine Express

https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/

Various destinations including local train stations in the Tees Valley area.

Help with cost

Senior Railcard

https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/

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

https://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/

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 travelling on National Rail, you can request an assistance booking in advance – now up to two 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.

Book 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 via individual train companies

Cross Country Trains

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/customer-service/travel-assistance#passenger-assistance

Contact: 0800 030 9224

Email: assistance@crosscountrytrains.co.uk

LNER

Travel assistance for disabled customers | LNER

Contact: 03457 225 225. Lines open 24 hours a day.

Northern Rail

Travel help and information – Northern Railway

Contact: 0800 138 5560

TransPennine Express

Passenger Assist | Book Assistance | TransPennine Express (tpexpress.co.uk)

Contact: 0800 107 2149

Grand Central Rail

Passenger Assist | Assisted Travel | Grand Central Rail

Contact: 0345 603 4852 

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs

All train operators in County Durham 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.

Mobility Scooters

The rules for scooters are different for each train operator so always check requirements before travelling. Some operators require permits so check with all train operators involved in your journey before travelling.

You can travel with a mobility scooter within the size dimension: 120cm long by 70cm wide and not exceeding a weight of 300kg (including the passenger) on most trains. You can check individual train operator dimension guidelines on the National Rail website: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/44969.aspx

Grand Central

https://www.grandcentralrail.com/help/travel-assistance/electric-mobility-scooters

You do not need a permit to take a mobility scooter on a Grand Central train and you can use designated wheelchair spaces. Folding mobility scooters can be stored as luggage.

LNER

https://www.lner.co.uk/faq/accessibility/are-mobility-scooters-allowed-on-trains/

You do not need a permit to take a mobility scooter on an LNER trains.

Cross Country Trains

https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/customer-service/contact-us-and-faqs/before-you-travel/can-i-travel-on-the-train-with-my-wheelchair-or-mobility-scooter

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

Northern Rail

Passengers can apply for a permit and their scooter will be assessed to ensure they are safe to be carried on board. Apply for a Northern Rail scooter permit.

TransPennine Express

You can take a scooter on a TP Express train, as long as you apply for a scooter card and your scooter is within the size dimensions (120cm long by 70cm wide and not exceeding a weight of 300kg, including the passenger). Apply for a scooter card here.

If you do not have a scooter card, you can still take your scooter if it can be dismantled and is no bigger than an average large suitcase.

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.

Routes and timetables

Online journey planners can help you plan train travel locally in County Durham and further afield. 

National Rail Journey Planner

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Trainline Journey Planner

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