Overview

This is a review about the excellent special assistance I received on my outward and return journey at King's Cross.

Transport & Parking

By the railway station is an accessible tube station and several bus routes stop outside the entrance or close by.

Access

The station is step free with wide open entrance doors. There is some seating with back support and some also have arm rests. OUTWARD JOURNEY The special assistance desk is in the centre of the concourse and when I arrived at the station entrance I was already exhausted. Unlike some other railway stations there are no help buttons/ intercom to let staff know that you have arrived. An intercom at the entrance to let staff known that people who had booked special assistance had arrived would be so helpful.

Toilets

Didn't use so unable to comment. However, there are accessible and a Changing Places toilet.

Staff

Excellent, everyone friendly, helpful and go me to where I needed to be quickly. OUTWARD JOURNEY I arrived and attracted the attention of a member of staff, who turned out to be TLF and who on my behalf went over to the station staff. They came over to me and signposted me to the special assistance desk. I explained to them that although it is a short distance to go, when you have a mobility disability and have to take your crutch and suitcase with you it becomes painful and tiring. One of the members of staff then went to the desk on my behalf. The other member of staff stayed with me. She explained that they were on-train staff and did not have intercoms to contact the special assistance desk with. A member of the special assistance team came quickly with a wheelchair. He was going to take me to the special assistance desk. I explained I had pre-booked special assistance and that there was now only about 15 minutes until my train left from one of the platforms where we were standing by and suggested it would be easier to take me straight to the platform. He then radioed to find out what platform I was departing from and took me there. I was travelling by Lumo and when we approached the train a member of their train staff came out to me and informed me that he was already aware of my journey and had chosen a seat for me near the accessible toilet. RETURN JOURNEY A member of special assistance team met me off the train with a wheelchair. I was taking a bus home and he wheeled me to my bus stop which was just outside the station concourse.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Sorry at the lack of photos, I find it so difficult to do when I am travelling with luggage. Another excellent trip with supportive special assistance staff. Huge thank you to them all. Would be really useful and I request as a reasonable adjustment for intercoms to be installed at the station entrances so disabled people can let special assistance staff know they have arrived and where assistance can be accessed from, instead of having to trail to the special assistance desk in the middle of the station, with luggage and navigating around the crowds.