Simply Wonderful
5
5
Date of visit: April 2017
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
The staff are kind and helpful and really genuinely seem to want to help. From the station staff to the train staff, volunteers and paid staff alike want to give you the best chance to make the most of your visit. They have, at great expense, put in a couple of carriages with a lift from platform to train and kitted out the carriage with space for wheelchairs and fold up chairs for your family to sit with you.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Parking & Transport
Excellent
They always make sure there are blue badge spaces but the better stations for this are Sheffield park and east grinstead (although I've never parked at east grinstead). Horstead Keynes always allow for disabled passengers but these are just an area for disabled only parking not marked bays. There are a couple of carriages with a lift from platform to train and kitted out with space for wheelchairs and fold up chairs for your family to sit with you and enjoy the views. It is worth phoning ahead to make sure you can catch these trains to make the most of your visit.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
I have only used the loo at Sheffield Park in the Bessemer arms but that was fine.
Staff
Excellent
Staff are absolutely amazing. So helpful and kind and really genuinely seem to want help you make the most of your journey. They are there and will give you tips to best see the trains properly. There are some paid staff but mostly volunteers but are all as kind and helpful. I can only say from who I've met on my 2 trips but I've not met a single person who's been less than kind and helpful. I personally cannot praise the staff and volunteers enough.
Additional Information
The buildings and platforms are old and so in places you do have to make minor allowances for this, but the staff are more than happy to help to fin a way around this so you don't miss out on anything. They have points at the ends of the platform to allow you to cross to the other sides of the station, these are a bit steep so either an electric wheelchair or a very good strong self propeller is needed or a carer or family member to help. The staff help whenever they can too (bit bare in mind that a lot are older and they have a lot of tasks to do so cannot always be there to push you!!) We had a great family day out! I would definitely recommend.
