Kent coaches

County advice overview

National Express provides wheelchair-accessible coach travel within Kent. Wheelchair spaces can be found at the front of the coaches, whilst storage for manual wheelchairs and scooters can be booked in advance.

National Express coaches are equipped with a wheelchair lift. However, it cannot be deployed at all stops, so you should always check in advance if this is a requirement.

If passenger assistance is needed at the coach stations, you can contact the coach operator to pre-arrange.

Contact the National Express Assisted Travel Team on 03717 818181.

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 coach and if you will 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 assistance in advance. Before you contact the coach operator to arrange, consider all aspects of your journey so you can obtain all the information in one call. For example, if travelling by coach are you able to access the onboard toilets? Will your destination stop be accessible?
When booking transport 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.

Regional operators

Day trips and holiday travel with local pick-up points are provided by the following coach operators.

CrossKeys

https://www.crosskeys.uk.com/

Provide private hire and organised trips.

To discuss accessibility requirements, contact: 01303 27 26 25 or email info@crosskeys.uk.com

Daish’s

https://www.daishs.com/holidays/coach-inclusive

Provide organised trips and hotel breaks.

To discuss accessibility requirements, contact: 01202 638840 or email info@daishs.com

National operators

Flixbus

https://www.flixbus.co.uk

Within the UK most services go from London, but some continental services also have stops near Dover, Folkestone, Ashford or Maidstone

Megabus

https://uk.megabus.com

National Express

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

For advice and to book travel assistance, contact: 03717 81 81 81

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/contact

Omio

https://www.omio.co.uk/coaches

Help with cost

Check my Bus

Will help you find the cheapest fares for your journey.

National Express Senior Coachcard

If you are 60 or over, you can apply for a National Express Senior Coachcard.

It offers a 1/3 saving on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of towns, cities and airports across the UK. There are no restrictions on peak and off-peak travel times, so you can travel when it suits you and your plans. This includes public holidays, bank holidays and weekends.

Benefits include:

Save 1/3 on Standard and Fully Flexible fares, even at peak times.
£15 day-return on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to anywhere in the UK (excluding airports), just book 3 days in advance of your travel.
•Free journey if your coach is delayed for over an hour

You can apply for a Senior Coachcard on the National Express website, by phoning 0871 781 8181, or at any National Express ticket outlet.

National Express Disabled Coachcard

A Disabled Coachcard offers a 1/3 saving on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of UK towns, cities and airports.

Special assistance

National Express Travel Assistance

National Express has a dedicated Assisted Travel Team who you can contact on 03717 818181 to talk through any assistance you may require. (Lines are open 9.00am – 5.00pm, 7 days a week.)

It is not a requirement to book your assistance in advance but it will help National Express to provide your assistance if you do so. You can also request assistance by completing the National Express online form.

Journey Assistance Cards

National Express have created a selection of Journey Assistance Cards for passengers.

These explain to staff and drivers any need for assistance or exemptions from requirements. For example, if you have a hearing impediment.

Journey Assistance Cards can be downloaded via this link.

Traveling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs

National Express coaches are equipped with a wheelchair lift. However, it cannot be deployed at all stops, so it is best to check in advance if your stop is accessible. If passengers prefer to transfer from their wheelchair to a coach seat, lightweight wheelchairs can be stowed in the luggage hold of the coach.

Wheelchair users are advised to book travel in advance, although this is not essential. This will allow National Express to check:

that the wheelchair is compatible with the space on the coach
that the combined weight of the customer and the wheelchair do not exceed the maximum weight capacity of being lifted by the wheelchair lift
that the locations at which the customer plans to board and alight the coach from are accessible stops at which the wheelchair lift can be deployed
that the specific coach on which the customer plans to travel is not already fully booked

It is recommended that you contact National Express 36 hours in advance of travel. This will ensure they are able to carry out checks. If you book same-day travel, National Express will make all reasonable efforts to carry out checks on the day.

Mobility Scooters

Passengers cannot travel in their mobility scooters. However small lightweight mobility scooters that can be dismantled and safely stowed in the luggage hold of the coach are accepted.

In order to check if your mobility scooter will be accepted, you will need to provide National Express with the size, make and model. You will be advised either at the time of booking, or by National Express calling you back, about the suitability of your mobility scooter for carriage in the luggage hold.

Further accessibility information can be found on the National Express website.

Assistance Dogs

Are accepted on National Express coaches.

Routes and timetable links

The following online links may help you to plan your journey with National Express, within Kent and further afield:

Traveline

A partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach and ferry. They can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information.

On the www.traveline.info, you can plan your journey door-to-door, see the different ways you can travel, view journey times and your route on a map.

If you need help to plan a journey, Traveline’s National Call Centre can be contacted on 0871 200 2233.

CoachBookings.com

Can provide a selection of coach holidays from a location close to your postcode. People with disabilities should enquire before booking to ensure the coach facilities will be suitable.

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