The Railway say... "The West Somerset Railway welcomes passengers who have a disability and any accompanying assistance dogs. Indeed, if you a disability, you may travel at half the adult or child fare. If you have a carer with you, he or she may also be eligible to travel at half fare. Even if your mobility is limited, most of the stations along the West Somerset Railway are accessible to you. Please arrive with at least 20 minutes to spare for boarding. Restrict your speed to 2mph for the safety of both yourself and everyone else. Until you are boarding a train, please keep away from the platform edge." Stations with good access and facilities… "At both our termini of Bishops Lydeard Station and Minehead Station you will find parking, level access, a Radar Key toilet, an accessible shop and café. Note the cafés and toilets are only available on those days when public trains are running; please telephone to ask if the shop is open on other days. At Watchet Station, our station has good accessibility and an accessible toilet; there is also a toilet nearby with full disabled facilities. Crowcombe Heathfield Station station has a toilet with disabled facilities." Stations with limited access and no facilities… "At Washford Station access to the platform may be felt to be rather steep. At Williton Station and Blue Anchor Station, the platform is narrow in places restricting wheelchair boarding. Dunster Station has wider, easier access." Other stations… "At Stogumber Station the platform is too narrow for the train ramp to be used for boarding but the gardens, picnic area and toilet are accessible and there is a small car park. Doniford Halt is reached by a small uneven gravel path down an embankment from a narrow road via a gate (and there is no parking available)." On the trains… "Most of our trains are accessible even if you have a disability. You can move between the carriages (including to the buffet car) on the level but the somewhat narrow connecting doors of our heritage carriages stop you from doing so in a wheelchair or scooter." "If you can step aboard and move to a seat, a small number of our carriages have a space (at one end) in which your folded wheelchair may be carried." "However, wheelchairs and all scooters will normally travel in the Guard’s Van. Here you will find windows and non-slip flooring. Access is via a ramp (note that whilst the on-train crew are there to help you, it is your responsibility for boarding using the ramp). Again, access to the rest of the train is on the level but restricted by the narrow connecting doors into the coach saloons." "For safety and operational reasons, the maximum size of wheelchair or scooter (folded if necessary) we can carry is 1200mm (47 inches) by 700mm (27 inches) and with a top weight of 230kg (36 stone) – all including you (see diagram below). These limits are the same as on the national rail network. " "To help you if your: scooter or wheelchair is oversize, we have a small number of (ordinary, standard size) wheelchairs available for loan at Bishops Lydeard, Watchet and Minehead for your use whilst you are on the railway. wheelchair is oversize for medical reasons (but not overweight), please contact us in advance of travel (details below) and we may be able to issue a permit to travel for your wheelchair. Please ask for assistance if it would help. We are here to ensure you enjoy your day!" "The maximum dimensions for wheelchairs and motorised scooters if travelling on the train: These are maximum dimensions allowed for wheelchairs and scooters if travelling on the train. If your wheelchair or motorised scooter exceed any of these dimensions, you are advised to contact the Railway for an assessment (see right for contact details) before travelling to the Railway."

Maximum wheelchair dimensions... In 2010, the West Somerset Railway Plc introduced a new policy for access to the station and trains for potential visitors in wheelchairs and motorised scooters. The policy clearly states maximum width and length dimensions for wheelchairs and motorised scooters, along with a maximum weight for these vehicles if using the train. If you are wheelchair-bound and your wheelchair exceeds the maximum dimensions you may be denied travel unless successfully passing an assessment. Current advice is to contact the Railway in advance of your planned journey. We continue to lobby for a change to the policy.

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