Suffolk rail

County advice overview

Suffolk has rail links across the county and beyond, with destinations including Ipswich, Cambridge, Norfolk, the coast, and London. 

The main county service provider is Abellio Greater Anglia Trains and information can be found regarding services, journeys and accessibility www.greateranglia.co.uk/destinations/the-suffolk-coast.

National Rail also provides information regarding accessibility at stations. 

Key tips

 When planning a journey by rail, you may wish to consider:

• Whether your train operator has specific guidance for travelling with mobility equipment on trains
• If the train station and required platform is accessible 
• If Passenger Assist is required. (Book in advance of your travel.)
• How you will travel to your destination point after your rail journey. (You may need to book an accessible taxi, for example.)
• Using a travel card to reduce travel costs 

Greater Anglia has produced an advice booklet for anyone needing help to access the rail services. 

Operators

Abellio Greater Anglia  

Abellio Greater Anglia website

Contact: 0345 6007245 (Lines close at 8.00pm) 

Help with cost

Senior Railcard

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

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 planning on travelling on National Rail services, you can request 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.

You can request Passenger Assist online. Or by contacting:

Tel: 0800 028 2878 (Free from landlines and mobiles)
Text Type: 18001 0800 028 2878

You can also request assistance via Passenger Assistance by Transreport – a smartphone app for customers.

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 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.

If you have further queries regarding accessibility or assistance on trains, contact the relevant train company.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Greater Anglia 

• There are specific accessibility restrictions for wheelchairs and electric scooters. Greater Anglia can convey passengers in 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).
• Trains have spaces in carriages that are clearly marked on the outside of the train. Wheelchair spaces are available within standard class accommodation only. 
• 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.
• 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 as the rules for scooters are different for different companies. 
• Scooters which are foldable, and which the passenger or their companion can lift on and off the train, will be carried as luggage. 

Cross Country Trains

• Carry scooters up to a maximum size of 700mm wide by 1200mm long and not exceeding a weight of 300kg (including the passenger). 
• When travelling with a mobility scooter, this must be folded and stowed in the luggage compartment.

Contact Cross Country Trains’ Assisted Travel team on 0800 028 2878 for any information. (24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Free phone.)

Routes and timetables 

The following websites can assist you in making travel plans and checking accessibility details.

• Suffolk on Board
• www.traveline.info
• National Rail can help you plan your journey, request help with access, find train times and operators.