Rail Travel in Shropshire
Gobowen Station
All rail travellers with disabilities are recommended to arrive at least 30 mins before designated departure to allow time for ramps and any assistance needed to be sourced even if you have not booked assisted travel.
Assisted Rail Travel Service Information
This must be booked with the operator of the station you are travelling from but it will cover the entire journey even if your destination station is run by another operator.
Arriva Wales
Arriva operate an Assisted Passenger Reservation Service on 0845 300 3005 (available 8am – 10pm). This can be used to reserve seats, arrange assistance for travel on the National Rail network and to buy tickets. N.B. Assistance should be booked at least 24 hours in advance and is available to all people with a disability that may require it e.g. those with visual impairment or wheelchair users.
Information and advice on station accessibility is also available on the above number. Arriva recommend allowing for arrival at your departure station 30 mins before the train time.
Assistance Dog Owners can book a space in front of a seat to ensure their dog travels in safety and comfort. More information about this service is available from Customer Relations on 0845 6061 660.
e-mail :- customer.relations@arrivatrainswales.co.uk
The assisted passenger service does not operate at all stations only those considered accessible by Arriva however if you ring 0845 300 3005 24 hrs in advance of your journey an alternative service of a suitable taxi to take you to the nearest accessible station can be provided.
London Midland (Formerly Central Trains)
Travelling from Telford to Shrewsbury with London Midland
London Midland also operates an Assisted Passenger Service and passengers will need to book assistance at least 24hrs in advance.
Telephone: 08706 09 60 60 Textphone: 08457 07 80 51 e-mail: comments@londonmidland.com
Both London Midland and Arriva Wales provide booklets to assist travellers with disabilities and these can be obtained from the above contact numbers.
Wrexham and Shropshire
This new railway company has recently launched a service between Wrexham and Marylebone in London via Shrewsbury.
From the summer their refurbished trains will have a dedicated area for wheelchair users and a wheelchair accessible toilet. In the short term, there will be limitations in the facilities. They therefore advise that all passengers with specific requirements make their needs known to our customer services team prior to their journey.
So if you can, please let them know of your requirements before you travel – just phone Customer Services on 0845 260 5200 (0900 – 1700 Monday to Friday), so they can make sure everything is ready for you.
For updated information on the assisted service, stations enroute and train times, you can check out their website www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk
e.mail info@wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk
or write to :-
Wrexham & Shropshire, Great Central House, Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place, London, NW1 6JJ
Fare information
This applies to all rail travel regardless of which rail company you travel with.
Disabled Persons Railcard :- application helpline 0191 2188103 or 0191 2690304 (textphone) for those with hearing difficulties or write to :-
Disabled Persons Railcard Office, P.O.Box 163, Newcastle – Upon –Tyne, NE12 8WX.
If you do not have a railcard and you purchase a 'standard or first class full open return ticket', day single or open single and are a wheelchair user and will remain seated in your wheelchair for the entire journey, you are still entitled to a 34 % discount on the ticket price. You are also entitled to a 50% discount on a ‘full day return ticket’. If you need a companion/carer to accompany you whether you are a child or an adult then they also will receive the above discount.
Children aged between 5 years and 15 years who are wheelchair users and remain seated in their wheelchair the entire journey receive 75% discount on all the above ticket prices.
National Rail enquiries :- 08457 484950 text phone :- 0845 6050600
National Rail also produce a guide for travellers with disabilities called ‘Rail Travel Made Easy’ that can be downloaded from their website www.nationalrail.co.uk or collected from your nearest manned station.
Whilst conducting our research for this guide we found that the information about station accessibility provided by Arriva and London Midland varied considerably from our findings and was in our opinion not sufficiently detailed for the use of passengers with mobility issues. Therefore we have chosen to include our own research results for readers of these web pages and the guide to use when making decisions about travelling.
Accessibility Information for Stations
(Please note a tti is an automated push button time table information system)
The accessible platform at Albrighton showing the footbridge
Albrighton (London Midland) :- The Shrewsbury platform has very limited parking with no designated spaces. There is almost level access on to platform, a tti, an accessible shelter but no phones and no toilets. The Wolverhampton platform is not accessible due to steep steps up and over the footbridge..
Broome (Arriva) :- Rough car parking area no designated spaces, access to the platform is via a long sloped path through gate on to single level platform, no toilet facilities, shelter has 3 inch step and a phone, wheelchair users would need assistance to open gate (spring lever action too high to reach) single track so single platform.
Bucknell Station
Bucknell (Arriva) :- The car park is across road from the station with no designated spaces. It is approximately 30yds across a rough surface to the entrance. There is a slope up to the platform and a steep camber on the platform sloping away from the line. There is an accessible shelter but no toilet facilities. The railway has a single track at this point so there is only the single platform.
Church Stretton showing the road bridge beyond the footbridge
Church Stretton (Arriva) :- There are hard surfaced car parks both sides of the station with two designated spaces. Access to both platforms is level and there are accessible shelters on each of them. There is a public phone 50 yds away in the station approach road. There is no disabled access between platforms so formexample for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues access from the ludlow platform tomthe Shrewsbury platform necessitates going down on to the A49 then turning left and turning left again up Sandford Avenue over the road bridge along the road and finally turning left down into town side station car park (approximately 10 mins wheeling time). There are no toilet facilities on the station ( for the nearest one turn left out of station via Sandford Avenue, left again into Central Avenue and the toilets are approximately 100yds on the right ).
Cosford (London Midland) :- On the Shrewsbury side access to the platform is via a steep flight of steps. There are also steep steps on the Wolverhampton side. This has parking but no designated spaces. There are shelters and a phone on the platforms..
The ramped access to the Shrewsbury platform at Craven Arms
Craven Arms (Arriva) :- There is a hard surfaced car park on the town side of the station, with two designated spaces. Access to the Ludlow platform is level and there are accessible shelters on both platforms. There are no toilet facilities or phone at the station. The nearest ones are approximately 500 yds away (out of the Ludlow platform entrance, turn right and on opposite side of A49). Access between platforms is via a footbridge so disabled access off of the Shrewsbury platform is via a ramp down on to Ash Close. (N.B. there is no car park here it is a dropping off point only). Then turn left through an estate over an unmade road, turn left again, down to a roundabout, turn left and wheel along the main A49 back up through the car park (approximately 15 - 20 mins wheeling time).
Access between platforms at Gobowen station is via this crossing
Gobowen (Arriva) :- There are 7 designated spaces in the hard surfaced car park. There is wheelchair access via ramps on to both platforms. Access between platforms is across a (very uneven) level crossing. There is no shelter on the Chirk platform but there is a ticket office and waiting room on Shrewsbury side. There is an accessible toilet in waiting room (key with ticket clerk) and tea/coffee vending machine however both are only available when the ticket office manned. The ticket office hours are Mon –Friday 7.15am – 4pm (except 1pm-1.45pm Mondays). Saturday 7.15 am – 12 midday. Public phone 10 yards from Chirk platform entrance.
Hopton Heath (Arriva) :- No car park, entrance near top of bridge through small kissing gate down very steep flight of 25 steps, single platform with tiny shelter no other facilities.
The ramped access to the Shrewsbury platform at Knighton
Knighton (Arriva) :- There is a hard surfaced car park in the station yard but no designated spaces. Access to Swansea platform is level. There are no toilet facilities on the station. Each platform has an accessible shelter. There is access from the Swansea platform to the Shrewsbury platform out through the car park and up over a road bridge and down the ramp pictured above (approximately 5 mins wheeling time).
Ludlow station showing the ramp and the pathway over the tunnel
Ludlow (Arriva) :- There is a hard surfaced car park on the town side with 2 designated spaces. The pay and display car park fee is for all and blue badge holders will also need to display their badge. Access to the town side platform is level. The small ticket office is not manned all the time but there is a contact number 01584 897090 for enquiries. The radar operated accessible toilet is separately locked when the ticket office is closed. There is an accessible shelter on each platform. Access to the Hereford platform is up an overgrown pathway with uneven surface and very steep slope across the top of the tunnel and down the other side on to a zig zagged ramp which leads down on to the platform. Manual wheelchair users would need the assistance of a fit/able companion to negotiate this. There is an alternative route via public roads and pavements however it is not signposted and our researchers were unaware of it so we have not tried it. There is a pick up/drop off point in Quarry Gardens adjacent to this platform.
The Wolverhampton platform at Oakengates Station
Oakengates (London Midland) :- There is a hard surfaced car park but no designated spaces. Access to the Wolverhampton platform (town side) is via a ramp. There is a Tti and an accessible shelter on this platform. The phone was vandalised on our visit. Wheelchair access to the Shrewsbury platform is out of the car park, left down to the roundabout turn left again, under the bridge turn left and left again up Station Fields (an unmade road) down a steep uneven ramp on to the platform. There is a possible alternative route over ramped footbridge (can be seen beyond the footbridge in the photo above) in Hancocks Drive off of Station Road but the ramps are steep and would need assistance. There are no toilet facilities at the station.
Prees Station
Prees (Arriva) :- Please note that the station is not in Prees but approximately 1.5 miles down a country lane from village. Access on to both platforms is gently ramped * and access between the two platforms is via the level crossing. There are accessible shelters on both platforms and a phone (card) in Shrewsbury shelter ( this was not working on our visit). There are no toilet facilities. Tti.
* Since our visit we have been informed that the platforms are unusually low at this station so ramps on to a train from here would be steep and some wheelchair users might incur difficulties boarding.
Aston Street entrance at Shifnal
Shifnal (London Midland) :- There is no disabled access to the Telford platform (steep flight of steps). However there is an accessible toilet near this entrance. The Wolverhampton platform is accessed via Aston Street however signage indicating the station entrance is very poor. There is limited parking this side and no designated spaces. Access on to this platform is inclined but good (see photograph above). There is a Tti and an accessible shelter but no toilet. Access between platforms is via steps so it is not possible for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.
Shrewsbury (looking across from platform 3)
Shrewsbury (London Midland) :- There is a hard surfaced car park with 9 designated spaces and level access to the ticket office and information desk (manned 5.15am – 1am). There was also good signage indicating to go to the information office if help is required and a separate disabled entrance through the manned barrier. The only way of accessing all the platforms except platform 3 is via a large lift. Platform 3 has ramped access outside of the main entrance across the car park and on the right hand side of station (when facing the entrance) please note there are no facilities on this platform. All facilities in the station are at platform level and via the lift. Once on the platform access to the café is level and there is ramped access to waiting room and customer assistance point. The accessible toilet (radar key) is on platform 4a. A taxi service operates from the car park with 3 accessible taxis (one of which can accommodate powered chairs).
N.B. If the lift is not operational there is no alternative route to access the platform so wheelchair users not booking assisted passage would be advised to ring the station beforehand to ensure accessibility.
The ramped access between platforms at Telford Central
Telford Central (London Midland) :- There is a large hard surfaced car park with 13 designated spaces adjacent to the Wolverhampton platform with one external phone box. The Ticket Office is manned from 6.15am – 7.30pm. When this is open there is a large internal waiting area with a tea kiosk, designated toilet and 2 phones (card and cash). However please note there is no indoor shelter outside these hours. Access to the Shrewsbury platform is via a very long, steep ramp which is badly lit in places. Manual wheelchair users will need the assistance of a very fit pusher to negotiate this. The shelter on this side has a large step and is not accessible . There is a small dropping off/collection point but it is off a busy road and in our opinion accessing it was dangerous. There are accessible taxis in the station rank.
The ramped access to the Wolverhampton platform at Wellington
Wellington (London Midland) :- There is no parking on town side of station but level access into station Ticket Office which is manned from 7am – 1.30pm.There is designated toilet (radar key is available from the ticket office and the café). However it has very small dimensions the light cord too high to reach and there are no grab rails and no emergency pull cord. It would not be suitable for powered wheelchair users and those needing carer assistance. The Café is accessible and serves hot and cold refreshment. There is a phone box (card only). Access between platforms is via a footbridge so for wheelchair users it involves a 15 min wheel to get to the Wolverhampton platform with no signage indicating the route. The shortest distance is via All Saints Churchyard but the entrance gates are extremely narrow and many wheelchair users would not be able to access them. The alternative route is via Plough Road. There are 6 disabled spaces in hard surfaced car park adjacent to the Wolverhampton platform and ramped access on to it. There are no facilities on this platform. A tti is available on both platforms.
Wem Station looking towards the level crossing.
Wem (Arriva) :- There is a hard surfaced car park on the town side with 1 designated space and ramped access to the Crewe platform. There is an accessible shelter however it was full of broken glass on our visit. Access to the Shrewsbury platform is up a fairly steep ramp where there are 2 accessible shelters but no toilets (the nearest one is opposite the supermarket in the central car park in town). There is a telephone on the corner of Station Road opposite the car park. A Tti is situated on this platform. Access between the platforms is via the level crossing.
The shelter at Whitchurch Station
Whitchurch (Arriva) :- Signage on the main road pointing to station entrance is not easily seen. There is a hard surfaced car park with 3 designated spaces and level access to the Crewe platform. There is a tti and a shelter which has a drainage gulley across entrance that could be difficult for small wheels (see photo above). There are no toilet facilities and no wheelchair access to the Shrewsbury platform (the only access is via a stepped bridge). The nearest phone is across a busy main road on corner of street opposite the station entrance. An accessible bus stops in car park.
Yorton Station entrance
Yorton (Arriva) :- There is a small rough surfaced car park with no designated spaces and good ramped access on to the Shrewsbury platform where there is an accessible shelter with a card phone (working on our visit), a Tti but no toilets. Access to the other platform is via 2 flights of steps (10 + 14) and is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues.