[bigsmiles]

Hi all, has any of you travelled by train since being in a wheelchair ? only we are planning a trip and are a little worried if getting on/ off or once on would be a problem. Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Thankyou

[Joed]

A friend of mine who has SCI traveled by train from Ontario to Chicago. She ambulates with a walker, but also uses a w/c. She was very pleased with her accomodations and the treatment she received. I'm guessing the train was Amtrak, but I'm not completley certain. Anyway, she said they treated her like a queen.

[hisamsmith]

I traveled by train from Inverness, Scotland to Edinburgh, Scotland and then from there to London, England in 2002. It worked well for me but then again I had 10 able bodied people with me. Everyone grabbed thier bags and mine, then someone grabbed my chair and I was carryed piggy-back off the train. The train employees and even strangers were quick to offer help. I don't know about US train travel though.

[keeptrukin]

I haven't yet traveled by train but I know most the big companies do have accomidations. If it's a smaller one though you'd better check into it. Not only is getting on and off with luggage a concern the bathrooms are also a concern some are a very tight fit.
Hope this is helpful

[Lucydog]

Depends where you are going? Do you have a disabled persons railcard? If not, get one, it will save you and your companion loads. Im presuming its the UK here? You really need to book assistance. East and West Coast main line trains are nearly always accessible and have wheelchair adapted places to sit. Depending on where you are going you will have to find out about the stations. Smaller stations often are not accessible as they are Victorian, dont have lifts and you may not be able to get to one or other platform. Similarly cross country trains may not be accessible as they use old stock which means you might not be able to get on. Having said that most of the time you will find staff very helpful. Virgin are usually pretty good on the whole.

Its all about planning and getting the right information.

cheers
L

[bigsmiles]

Thanks all..its only a very short trip Coventry to Birmingham for those in the UK. Hes having trouble getting his legs in the car at the moment as the right one wont bend and he is 6ft he was thinking it might be less hassel on a train but im unsure now...Thanks for your help

[milosh]

i used trains in different countries, more or less with no problem. the only problem are some trains around eastern europe with coupes, not open-plan carriages. then i simply sit in restaurant carriage.

15% off for disabled on amtrak also applies to us foreigners while we visit the USA? does it apply if i eventually come to work in the US on an H1 or L1 visa in california?

[jane]

Coventry to Birmingham - Central trains - they do have wheelchair spaces - book with them and make sure stations know you will need help - they use a ramp to get you off. Best to book at busy times - in my experience central trains do not put enough carriages on and they get busy and are often late!!

hope that helps

[bigsmiles]

Thanks so much for that Jane thats great and nice to know someone close to home.

[bigsmiles]

Well close...ish , thought i read you lived in nuneaton....will go back to sleep

[jane]

I live 5 miles from nuneaton - but on leicestershire / warwickshire border.

yes, nice to know someone near by.

Jane

[milosh]

onion... i hope in february. ;)

well, the most W/C-friendly countries i've been too are sweden, holland and the USA. in eastern europe, croatia has improved so much! also hungary and czech. serbia is not bad too, at least not bad is it used to be only a few years ago.

if there the train is not W/C-friendly i either try to find open-plan carriage or sit in a restaurant/bistro carriage.

russian trains are really not W/C-friendly, but staff is very friendly and helpful. almost 2 years ago i did my trans-siberian trip! even in very remote parts of siberia i have managed.

[gsp23]

I havent been on a train since I was a kid but I have been forcing myself to do as much new things as possible since becomming a wheelchair user so I get used to everything. I remember going into certain stores gave me trouble a couple months ago and I was worried about having to go through them if nobody was around, but after telling my boyfriend everytime we went anywhere that I wanted to open to try opening the door first I have that down well... curbs I am still working on and havent been able to get the hang of. But anyways, trains is another experience that scares me a bit so I think I need to just go on a train with a friend so I can see it is not anything scary just cause I use a chair.