Travelling alone as a Disabled person should feel clear, accessible and possible, because train travel should be accessible to everyone.
Solo travel can mean different things to different people. It might be a long journey, a day trip, a commute, a hospital appointment or a visit to see friends and family.
Some people love travelling alone. Others may feel unsure, especially if a journey involves busy stations, platform changes, unfamiliar routes or unclear information.
Passenger Assistance is there if requesting support before you travel helps you feel more prepared.
Planning a solo train journey
Travelling alone by train can involve a lot of information.
You may want to check your route, journey times, station facilities and whether you need to change trains.
You may also want to know where to go when you arrive at the station.
The barrier is not travelling alone. The barrier is often inaccessible information, unclear processes or not knowing what support will be available.
Passenger Assistance can help reduce some of that uncertainty.
How Passenger Assistance can help
Passenger Assistance helps Disabled passengers, older people and people with access needs request support before travelling by train.
You can use the Passenger Assistance app or website to share your journey details and request the support you would like.
This might include:
- Help finding the right platform
- Support moving through the station
- Help getting on or off the train
- Ramp support
- Support changing trains
- Help with light luggage
- Clear information from staff
- Extra time to board
You can also add notes in your own words.
This helps staff understand what support has been requested before you arrive.
Using the Passenger Assistance app
The Passenger Assistance app is the easiest way to keep your journey details, access needs and assistance requests in one place.
You can use the app to choose your journey, request support and view your assistance request before you travel.
You can also create a Passenger Assistance profile. This can make future requests quicker because your access considerations are already saved in one place.
You decide what information to share.
For a step-by-step guide, read: How to use Passenger Assistance.
Using Ask PA while travelling alone
You can also use Ask PA, the Passenger Assistance WhatsApp service.
Ask PA can help you check station accessibility information, manage your assistance request and get updates while travelling.
This can be useful when travelling alone, especially if you want quick answers before or during your journey.
Read more here: Train assistance on WhatsApp: how to use Ask PA.
Do I have to request assistance before travelling?
No.
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 you another option if planning ahead helps you feel more confident.
Tips for travelling alone by train
Before travelling alone, it may help to:
- Check your route and train times
- Allow extra time if the station is unfamiliar
- Keep your ticket and assistance request easy to find
- Check whether your journey involves changing trains
- Use Ask PA to check station accessibility information
- Bring a phone charger if you rely on your phone while travelling
You do not need to plan every detail. But having key information in one place can help the journey feel more manageable.
Travelling alone with confidence
Travelling alone as a Disabled person should come with clear information, choice and support.
Passenger Assistance can help you request support before your journey and share your access needs with the train company.
It does not remove every barrier Disabled passengers face. But it can help make train travel feel clearer, calmer and easier to manage.
To request assistance for your next solo train journey, visit passengerassistance.com or download the Passenger Assistance app.