Rail Services

Advice for the Disabled Traveller

This page contains links that may help you get extra information and help to enable you to plan a journey around a particular disability.

What do the Traveline symbols mean?

If you use the Traveline Journey Planner you will probably be offered options that include bus travel. There are 3 symbols used which show the level of accessibility that you can normally expect on that bus route.

	The service is operated by a bus without any special accessibility and therefore may have step access.
	The service has been identified as normally using a low floor bus with no entrance step. However it may not have a space for a wheelchair, and doesn't have a wheelchair ramp.
	The service has been identified as normally using a wheelchair accessible bus with a ramp and an official space for a wheelchair.

 Notes regarding wheelchairs on buses.

The information on bus accessibility has been supplied by bus operators and local councils. If there are other routes that you think we should add to Traveline please use the Traveline Feedback button or let Reading Borough Council know (0118 9553735 e-mail stephen.wise@reading.gov.uk).

Types of wheelchairs

All new buses are required to be able to carry wheelchairs but wheelchairs come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Whilst you should expect a standard manual or electric chair to be able to travel by a wheelchair accessible bus it may not be possible to carry a scooter.

The Department for Transport guidance for bus operators gives wheelchair sizes of;

• No more than 700mm wide
• No more than 1200mm long
• No more than 1350mm high from floor level to the top of the head of the person seated in the wheelchair.

If you have a non-standard chair you are advised to contact the bus operator before travelling to check that it can be accommodated. If you click on the operator name of the service offered on the journey planner, their contact details will be displayed.

Locally you can contact Reading Buses on 0118 9594000 or First on 01344 782222

Accessibility of bus routes in Reading

All Premier Route buses are fully wheelchair accessible. All buses used on these routes have a wheelchair ramp and specific wheelchair parking area.

Premier Route buses are colour coded for easy identification;

All Fasttrack Park & Ride, GreenPark, Nighttrack and Thames Valley Park buses are fully accessible with a wheelchair ramp and specific wheelchair parking area.

The remaining Reading Buses routes are all low floor with no entrance step, they don't have a wheelchair ramp but there is space for a wheelchair on board.

All Reading Buses have radio contact between the driver and the depot controller for the benefit of all customers on board.

Coach Services for disabled travellers

National Express are introducing new coaches with a special lift at the front door for wheelchairs. The wheelchair then uses the space normally occupied by the front seat. The intention is to introduce these coaches throughout the network over the next few years.

As at April 2008 wheelchair accessible coaches on the London � Heathrow � Chippenham and Bath route call at Calcot Coachway (Sainsburys) several times each day.

For more information contact National Express's Disabled Persons Travel helpline on 01717 818179

Toilets for disabled travellers

Please use the link at the bottom of the page which will direct you to a website where you can find the location of accessible toilets for anywhere in the country.

Availability of staff to assist disabled travellers

Staff assistance is available at many stations. Please use the link at the bottom of the page to the National Rail stations database. Here you can check if staff are available to help and the extent of facilities for disabled travellers.

It is not normally possible to provide assistance between buses and stations unless you use a specialised assistance bus service such as Dial-a Ride.

Details for dial a ride can be found by clicking on the Readibus button or phone 0118 931 0000.

More help and advice

Local authorities can give advice to disabled travellers regarding specific facilities in their areas. Call Reading Borough Council Transport Planning on 0118 9553735 or e-mail stephen.wise@reading.gov.uk

Taxi info

Please click on the link at the bottom of the page for details:

• of accessible taxi operators serving the area around each station.
• for the 'Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee' guide called 'Door to Door: a travel guide for disabled people'.
• for the dept for transport publication 'Wheels within wheels � a guide to using a wheelchair on public transport'.

External Links

Reading Borough Council does not necessarily endorse or recommend any of the links or services below.