A Pleasant Surprise
4
4
Date of visit: July 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
I made the trip to Newport to catch up with a friend after a workday in Bristol. I wasn't sure what to expect, as for once I hadn't researched ahead of time! It's fair to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The station entrance has automatic sliding doors that lead into the entrance hall. There are some seats here, and the ticket gates are just ahead. An accessible gate is available for wheelchair users, people with buggies, and those travelling wih large suitcases. Newport has four platforms in total, all with step-free access via lifts. The lifts have braille buttons both inside and outside, along with a lower alarm button near the floor for emergencies. As a manual wheelchair user, I found there was plenty of space inside the lift for me and three other travellers. The stairways are also well-marked, with clear indicators at the top and bottom steps. Between platforms 2 and 3, there’s a small WHSmith offering snacks and drinks. The shop is slightly elevated with ramp access, which might be fine for a manual wheelchair user, but I wouldn’t chance it with a powerchair and definitely not with a scooter. On the same platform, you’ll find the assistance desk, which has a lowered counter on the right-hand side. I arrived about ten minutes before my train and found the team responsive and helpful. One thing to note is that this desk doesn’t have a hearing loop, though I was told there is one at the ticket office and on the platforms. When I returned around 9 pm, the ticket office was closed, but I did notice the double doors here, which can be operated using the touchpad on the right-hand side of the frame. Inside, there are single chairs and benches available. Across the platforms, there are benches both in the open and inside shelters. Each platform also has clearly marked edges with tactile paving and yellow paint.
Parking & Transport
Average
There is a small car park at the station with six accessible parking spaces. The first space does not have hatched markings on the left side. There are drop-off points. The car park offers plenty of standard spaces and is operated by APCOA, whose website advises that Blue Badge holders are entitled to 20 minutes of free parking when parked in a Blue Badge bay. There is also 20 minutes of free parking for pick up and drop off in the designated bays at this site. If you're taking the bus, the 1, 2, 50, 56, 60, 151, R1, SJ13, and YGI2 services all operate along the nearby Queensway.
Accessible Toilets
0I didn’t have time to use the toilet during my visit, so I won’t give it a rating, but I do know there’s an accessible toilet on platform 2 that requires a RADAR key.
Staff
Excellent
The staff were really helpful, especially when I had some trouble retrieving my ticket from the Trainline app. The assistance staff were especially great, making sure I was comfortable both on the platform and once I was aboard the train.
