Newcastle Railway Station

Date of visit: December 2024

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

First opened in 1850 Newcastle Railway Station, also known as Newcastle Central is a busy station in Newcastle town centre. With plenty of places to grab a bite or a beer while you wait, an accessible Subway station and a Changing Places toilet it has much of the essentials, though the quality of the latter isn't great. This review is specific to the Changing Places toilet, though it will touch on access.

Disabled Access In and Around

The station was easy to navigate despite being very busy. Signage is clear, but despite the RNIB having had input and the installation of a tactile map, braille usage is minimal. The lifts from the Metro have braille markings and induction loops. Induction loops are operational at the ticket office, assistance desk and on the platforms. Though not specific to the Changing Places toilet, there is also a BSL departure board in the accessibility lounge, which is not well advertised.

Parking & Transport

There are both long and short-stay car parks at this location, with 13 accessible parking spaces. The subway will take you to the station. With lifts to take you to the station concourse, the subway network is accessible but comes with a caveat, the platform heights and gaps between the carriages and platforms vary. This means that pre-planning is needed, with prior contact requested to ensure ramps are made available. There are drop-off points and parking spaces at the front of the station, where you'll also find a taxi rank and rain shelter. You'll find six bus stops at the front of the station.

Accessible Toilets

The Changing Places toilet at this location is quite unimpressive. Whilst there is a Ceiling Track hoist and change bed, the bed amounts to little more than a thin wooden shelf with nothing to prevent falls, not dissimilar to a cheap kitchen worktop, and provides zero padding. It even has metal baskets underneath. There is enough room to manoeuvre most mobility devices if needed. The toilet has a soft back, with silver rails on either side of the toilet and space for a left-side transfer only. The small sink has a lever-style tap and grab rails on both sides. There's no colostomy shelf. The red cord hung to the floor and was free from obstruction, which is a positive. The door opens outward and is opened by putting your RADAR key into a hole in the wall. On the outside of the door, I noticed a laminated paper sign stating "Changing Room," complete with dots where the braille markings should have been. Not great. The toilet corridor is accessed through automatic doors, with a touchpad just outside.

Staff

0

I didn't encounter any members of staff on my visit.

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