Train trip for elderly (with possible underground)

Mike_J

My parents are travelling from the North West down to Bognor Regis. Mother is in a hweelchair and father is getting on a bit and not in the best of health. Unfortunatly a lack of direct services means planning a route with changes.

Option 1 is via Wolverhampton, Southampton and Bareham
Option 2 is via Euston, LONDON UNDERGROUND, Victoria

Option 2 is the more straightforward and is shorter in time but Im wondering what help is available on the underground for elderly/disabled passengers. Would the slightly longer trip be better as the changes are merely platform to platform

Thanks in advance

Oldernotwiser

If you're going via London, forget the Tube and get a taxi - it'll be money well spent.

I certainly wouldn't attempt the journey with the changes and my husband isn't even in a wheelchair yet!

Mankysteve

It a short hop between the two station shudnt cost too much by black cab.

dzug1

Mike_J wrote: »

Option 2 is the more straightforward and is shorter in time but Im wondering what help is available on the underground for elderly/disabled passengers.

None is the answer - and most stations are not wheelchair accessible.

rev_henry

If you go on I think the Virgin Trains website, there's a phone number you can ring to book special disabled assistance at whichever stations you need. You can specify what help you need as well, I think they just tell one of the station staff to come and meet you and help you off the train etc.

tanith

Agree with the others, I doubt you could get help on the underground and access from one platform to another is usually up or down stairs.. not recommended for wheelchairs..

Mike_J

The have done trips by train recently (including on Southern trains) and have received help at every station ...(remember as a public building all stations have to be "wheelchair friendly"). I was just unsure about the underground tfr.

KeithP

Mike J,
Option 3 might be...
from North West to Milton Keynes,
change at MK to a Southern train to Clapham Junction,
change at Clapham Junc for a Bognor train.

Avoids central london. Avoids Underground.
Assistance should be available, particularly if booked, at both MK and Clapham Junc.

Mike_J

KeithP wrote: »

Mike J,
Option 3 might be...
from North West to Milton Keynes,
change at MK to a Southern train to Clapham Junction,
change at Clapham Junc for a Bognor train.

Avoids central london. Avoids Underground.
Assistance should be available, particularly if booked, at both MK and Clapham Junc.

Ooooo I will look into that one. They have had good experience with Southern and the change at Clapham will be to a southern train.

glider3560

If you phone the train company's assistance line, they can pre-book assistance at the station. This means that someone can meet them, help them to the platform and then help them onto the train. This can be booked at all their intermediate stations.

It is also possible for the assistance line to waive routeing requirements, if it makes the journey easier for someone disabled. This would allow them to travel via different stations (perhaps smaller stations so they don't have to walk so far or a larger station which has lifts) to what most people would be allowed.

Many LU stations aren't wheelchair friendly, so I wouldn't recommend that option.

Mike_J wrote: »

Ooooo I will look into that one. They have had good experience with Southern and the change at Clapham will be to a southern train.

Clapham Junction is actually operated by South West Trains, so they would provide the assistance at the station even if they get a Southern train.