Real-life journeys using the Passenger Assistance app show how different passengers use the app in different ways.
Some people use it for work. Some use it for visiting friends and family. Others use it for days out, football matches, long journeys or travelling independently.
Everyone travels differently.
Passenger Assistance gives Disabled passengers, older people and people with access needs another way to request support before travelling by train.
Why real-life journeys matter
Accessible travel is not one-size-fits-all.
Different passengers face different barriers. Some passengers want ramp support. Some want help changing trains. Some want clear information from staff. Others want reassurance that their access needs have been shared before they arrive at the station.
That is why real-life stories matter.
They show how Passenger Assistance can support different journeys, different passengers and different access needs.
Using Passenger Assistance to travel independently
Alice Ella, also known as ‘@itsaliceella‘ on Instagram, has shared how Passenger Assistance helped her travel more independently.
As a wheelchair user, Alice had previously found travelling alone difficult. She felt she often needed someone with her to help carry bags, push her wheelchair or support her through the journey.
Using the Passenger Assistance app gave Alice another option.
She could request support before travelling, including help at the station, luggage support and assistance getting onto the train.
Umaymah, a Disabled person and wheelchair user, shares how Passenger Assistance helps make wheelchair train travel feel clearer, calmer and more manageable.
Read Umaymah’s story here: Travelling by train as a wheelchair user: Umaymah’s Passenger Assistance story.
This is Georgina Awasdell, ‘@georginaawasdell‘, she used Passenger Assistance when travelling to visit her long-distance best friend.
For many passengers, journeys like this are about more than getting from one station to another.
They are about connection, independence and being able to make plans with more confidence
Clara Holmes, also known as ‘@rollinfunky‘ on Instagram, has used the Passenger Assistance app when travelling by rail. Clara is a wheelchair user and has shared how the app can help reduce some of the stress around train travel.
Emma, ‘@Simplyemmablog‘ – With the help of the Passenger Assistance app, Emma took her first train journey in two years! With just a few clicks, she entered all her requirements into the app meaning that once she arrived at the station, staff already knew what she needed. The app has allowed Emma to feel spontaneous as she doesn’t have to plan her journeys too far in advance. If you need some inspiration on where to take your next trip, check out our ‘Wheelchair-friendly walks in Derbyshire‘ blog post.
Becky shares how Passenger Assistance makes planning train travel as a Disabled person feel quicker and easier. Read Becky’s story here.
Here we have Charlie, also known as ‘@n_q_p_c‘ on Instagram, a young wheelchair user with Cerebral Palsy. Charlie is a huge advocate of the Passenger Assistance app, sharing that he believes it makes getting the train for disabled people so much easier. He’s shared so many of his journeys to social media showing how much it helps him travel, whether its for work or pleasure.
We loved seeing Judith Smale, ‘@judith_wheel_travel‘, using the Passenger Assistance app to travel to Newcastle to watch a football game! Judith is a wheelchair user who enjoys getting out and about, so has used the app many times since its launch to request her assistance.
Amy, ‘@chronically_good_life‘, is another huge lover of our app as she is someone who regularly posts her journeys and specifies how the app allows her to commute more by train. She often uses the app for her journeys into college and days out with her friends.
How to use the Passenger Assistance app
The Passenger Assistance app lets you request support before you travel.
You can use it to:
- Choose your train journey
- Share your access needs
- Request the support you would like
- Add notes for staff
- View and manage your assistance request
Your request is then sent to the train company supporting your journey.
Travelling your way
Passenger Assistance does not replace Turn Up and Go.
Disabled passengers still have the right to travel by train without requesting assistance in advance.
Some people prefer to request assistance before they travel. Some people use Turn Up and Go. Others travel spontaneously or decide what they need on the day.
All of these choices are valid.
Passenger Assistance simply gives passengers another option if planning ahead helps them feel more prepared.
Start using Passenger Assistance
Real-life journeys using the Passenger Assistance app show that accessible travel looks different for everyone.
Passenger Assistance can help you share your access needs, request support and keep journey details in one place.
To request assistance for your next train journey, visit passengerassistance.com or download the Passenger Assistance app.