Seating Plans- Wheelchair space location

[TBY-Paul]

I'm looking to find information regarding the location of wheelchair space on a forth coming trip from Manchester Piccadilly to Aberystwyth using ATW via Shrewsbury.
My wife has recently started using a wheelchair, and it's our first trip since getting the wheelchair. Getting on board a train would be easier using a wheelchair and Ramp, but she likes to look out of the window and watch the scenery pass by, and depending on the location of Wheelchair space, it might be better to find a seat once on board and fold the wheelchair up (if Allowed). I've put "if Allowed" because I'm not sure of the rules, if any, regarding getting assisted travel when using a wheelchair.

 

[dquebec]

If the ticket is discounted for being a wheelchair user, she is not entitlted to a seat and must remain in the wheelchair. If the ticket is full fare - she can get assistance on/off and sit anywhere.

 

[OneOffDave]

If they are using a Disabled Person's Railcard (or any other railcard for that matter) then they can sit anywhere. I'm not aware of any wheelchair user specific discounts.

As far as looking out of the window goes, I've found that your head height sat in a wheelchair is slightly higher than someone sat in a standard seat so you are nearer the top of the window. This is only really noticeable on Pendolinos in my experience.

 

[quarella]

. I'm not aware of any wheelchair user specific discounts.
.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44965.aspx

Customers who stay in their own wheelchair during a rail journey

If you need to stay in your own wheelchair during your rail journey the concessionary discounts shown below apply. Discounts are available on adult and child fares. The discounts below apply if you are travelling alone. They are also available to one adult travelling with you. Tickets can be purchased from staffed National Rail station ticket offices.
Discounts available on adult fares

First Class / Standard Anytime Single or Return 34% off

First Class / Standard Anytime Day Single 34% off

First Class / Standard Anytime Day Return 50% off

Please note, that sometimes it may be cheaper to buy an undiscounted Off-Peak or Advance ticket.

 

[brompton rail]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/44965.aspx

I.e. The same discount as is available to Disabled Railcard holders, but without the need for the purchase of a Railcard. However with a very limited range of Anytime tickets, no advance, off peak etc that ARE available to Railcard holder.

 

[TBY-Paul]

We seam to have gone off at a tangent. My wife has a DSB railcard, and has had one for a number of years, but her condition has progressed (if that's the right word) from being able to get around whilst holding on to me and using a walking stick, to requiring a wheelchair over longer distances.
Getting aboard a train is a challenge (steps), so using the wheelchair and using a ramp would safer and a lot less challenging, but once on board, depending on where the Wheelchair space is allocated (different units have wheelchair spaces in different places, hence why I'm asking about the seating plan), so, if the option is available, sitting at a table seat would be the preferred option.

 

[krus_aragon]

Getting aboard a train is a challenge (steps), so using the wheelchair and using a ramp would safer and a lot less challenging, but once on board, depending on where the Wheelchair space is allocated (different units have wheelchair spaces in different places, hence why I'm asking about the seating plan), so, if the option is available, sitting at a table seat would be the preferred option.

On the journey from Manchester to Shrewsbury, you will most likely be travelling on a class 175 unit. These have two wheelchair spaces in coach A, each of which are at a table, with two seats opposite.

Between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth, you will be travelling on a class 158. These also have two wheelchair spaces, but they do not have a full table associated with them. They have a small shelf table between them and the two facing seats. A photograph illustrating this can be seen on a past issue of the North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board.

 

[TBY-Paul]

On the journey from Manchester to Shrewsbury, you will most likely be travelling on a class 175 unit. These have two wheelchair spaces in coach A, each of which are at a table, with two seats opposite.

Between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth, you will be travelling on a class 158. These also have two wheelchair spaces, but they do not have a full table associated with them. They have a small shelf table between them and the two facing seats. A photograph illustrating this can be seen on a past issue of the North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board.

Thank you for that information, it's most helpful.

It's the first time I've used ATW and the advanced tickets didn't come with seat reservations. With seat reservations, I assume there is a choice when using a wheelchair, as whether you use the seat or remain in the wheelchair and use the allocated wheelchair space (depending on the disabled persons level of disability).

The class 175 unit sounds as thought it's a similar arrangement to that I've seen on HST's, and from the link provided, the picture of the class 158 unit arrangement looks OK.

As I previously stated it's the first time we will have used the wheelchair, and I just want to do it with the minimum of inconvience to all concerned.

 

[krus_aragon]

Thank you for that information, it's most helpful.

You're very welcome. Arriva stopped giving out specific seat reservations with advance tickets a few years ago. You can still reserve a seat if you wish, by contacting a ticket office (but in your case you may not).

When boarding at Manchester, take a glance to see if your class 175 train is two or three coaches long. If it's two coaches long, you'll be aiming for one of the pair of doors at the middle of the unit. If it';s three coaches, you'll find the wheelchair space either a third or two thirds of the way along, at the centre end of coach A (in both cases). Coach letters are clearly painted on 175s.

At Shrewsbury, you'll find the wheelchair space is next to one of the pair of doors at the centre of a two-coach 158 unit. Bear in mind that the train may be formed of two units, with one going to Pwllheli instead. The departure boards and announcements make it clear whether you'll want the front or rear unit for Aberystwyth. As the trains reverse at Shrewsbury, you'll have plenty of time to board.


Having said all that, if you have booked travel assistance, the member of staff escorting you should know all of the above anyway. Still, it may be of reassurance to you.

 

[TBY-Paul]

You're very welcome. Arriva stopped giving out specific seat reservations with advance tickets a few years ago. You can still reserve a seat if you wish, by contacting a ticket office (but in your case you may not).

When boarding at Manchester, take a glance to see if your class 175 train is two or three coaches long. If it's two coaches long, you'll be aiming for one of the pair of doors at the middle of the unit. If it';s three coaches, you'll find the wheelchair space either a third or two thirds of the way along, at the centre end of coach A (in both cases). Coach letters are clearly painted on 175s.

At Shrewsbury, you'll find the wheelchair space is next to one of the pair of doors at the centre of a two-coach 158 unit. Bear in mind that the train may be formed of two units, with one going to Pwllheli instead. The departure boards and announcements make it clear whether you'll want the front or rear unit for Aberystwyth. As the trains reverse at Shrewsbury, you'll have plenty of time to board.


Having said all that, if you have booked travel assistance, the member of staff escorting you should know all of the above anyway. Still, it may be of reassurance to you.

Thank you, once again, for the useful information.

You have confirmed a few things my research threw up. The train splitting and I suspected the train from BHI to AYW must reverse as it uses a bay platform (and hence, why it has a long dwell time) at SHR, as it happens we have a 42 min transfer window at SHR.

Based on the information you've supplied, I think it will be wiser to book assisted travel, that way the station staff get a bit of advanced notice, and things should run a bit more smoothly.

On the subject of Assisted Travel, we are travelling from Thornaby to Manchester on a TPE service and then on to Aberystwyth on ATW, do I need to contact both TOC's or would the staff at Thornaby be able to sort it all out (I'll be picking up the tickets sometime this week, but we don't travel till July 11th).