Durham Railway Station
4
4
Date of visit: October 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
Durham Railway Station is a small station with two platforms and regular routes to Newcastle, York, London, and Edinburgh. Although it can feel a bit more complicated to navigate than other stations of a similar size, it is a well stocked station with good accessibility.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
There are two platforms at the station. Each has tactile paving at the platform edge, overhead BSL signage, hearing loops and a variety of seating options. I entered via the car park leading to Platform 1. The doors open automatically on entry but once inside you need to use the touch pad. On the way to Platform 1, I passed the accessible toilet, a waiting area with metal seats, the passenger assistance meeting point, a WH Smith kiosk and a Costa Coffee and that was before I reached the platform. There is a short ramp leading up to the platform. The ramp has rails on either side and a slight incline. When I arrived, the ticket office on the platform was closed, but I noted that there is a lowered counter and a hearing loop symbol on the wall nearby. Ticket machines are available here. To cross to the other platform, I took the lift down from Platform 1 to the alternate entrance where you will find a bus stop. Taking a right, I went through the underpass and took the lift up to Platform 2. In both instances the lifts had Braille buttons, but they are quite small. There is still enough room for a powerchair user and another person. Each lift had rails and an alarm button close to the floor. Please be aware that there is an incline as you approach the end of the underpass. For those who can manage steps, there is a stairway here with tactile paving and yellow markings at each level change. This is the same for each stairway throughout the station. Platform 2 has a second entrance with accessible parking spaces and a taxi point. The doors here open automatically from outside but again you must press the touch pad on the handrail if you are inside. On Platform 2 there is a bar/cafe café called The Waiting Room. It looks like a good place to sit if you are waiting for a train from that platform. At the café there are mostly wooden benches that you should be able to sit at with a wheelchair or powerchair. Each platform has a Braille map which I love to see. On Platform 1 it is near the ticket office and on Platform 2 it is near the entrance where the taxis are.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
In the car park near Platform 1 there are seven accessible parking spaces and a drop off point with tactile markings and a dropped kerb. Taxis also pick up from this area. There are seven accessible parking spaces at the entrance to Platform 2 and a disabled drop off point with tactile markings and a dropped kerb. Taxis also pick up from this area and I spotted an accessible taxi when I was there. For those travelling by public transport, the station has a bus stop where the 40 Cathedral Bus, 41 Cathedral Bus and 42 services operate. If walking or wheeling from the town centre, please be aware that the station is at the top of a hill. It is a bit of a hike for most people and a challenge for manual wheelchair users. I did not see any EV charging facilities during my visit.
Accessible facilities: Drop-off or pick up point, Dedicated on-site parking
Accessible Toilets
Average
I visited the accessible toilet near the Platform 1 entrance. It is located down a corridor which is thankfully well signposted. The toilet requires a RADAR key, but you need to put the key in a slot in the wall and turn it to the right to release the door. The door opens outwards. Once inside, the toilet is very small, with just about enough room for a powerchair user and a second person – though it's pretty tight. There is a right side transfer space, although it has bins in it which makes it unusable. There are grab rails on either side of the toilet that contrast well, as does the blue toilet seat. The red cord is hangs to the right – when seated – and is free of obstruction. The sink has a lever style tap with contrasting rails on either side and a mirror above. The hand dryer is on the left. The toilet is clean and well kept. It is just a shame the transfer space is occupied. There is a baby change table in this loo.. There is also another accessible toilet platform 2, which also requires a RADAR key. The key slot is in the door, this time but the toilet was in use when I visited, so I wasn't able to gather any further information. I did notice the use of Braille on the toilet doors, which is always appreciated.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
I didn't speak with the staff during my visit.
