Staff are helpful, access isn't great
2
2
Date of visit: April 2024
I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, moving around and understanding.
Overall Rating
Poor
Whole station is on a hill which makes navigating it in a manual wheelchair exhausting. Toilet was clean but very difficult to locate. Staff are usually around for assistance and have never made me feel like a burden.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
Whole site is on a hill. The east entrance requires you to go up and down some very steep slopes for the underpass, but is the only way if you use the multistory car park. The north entrance between platforms 3 and 4 is also on a big hill and very difficult to exit from without help. The hill continuous even after you leave the station. There is some seating on the platform, with raises priority seats, but seating is very limited. Inside the platform isn't reasonably level and easy to self propel.
Parking & Transport
Poor
I arrive by taxi. There is a single disabled parking space at the station, and another in the drop off/pick up zone. Parking is expensive in the multistory and a fair distance from the station entrance, especially when it's raining (which it always is in Preston). Buses are extremely unreliable and often drive past stops, wouldn't recommend getting here by bus.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
Toilets are radar key only, and therefore clean and well kept. However, the signage for the accessible toilet is incorrect and led to me going back and forth for 15 minutes because asking a staff member for help. (It's hidden in the corner of the waiting room incase you're wondering!)
Staff
Good
I've always found the staff very helpful, and I haven't been forgotten by travel assistance at Preston yet. There's always staff members around, so isn't too difficult to get their attention if you need last minute assistance.
