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You can explore the layout of any train station,
find out about accessibility and its facilities using the ‘Stations Made Easy’ tools
which are part of the National Rail Enquiries website at www.nationalrail.co.uk
From the menu select ‘Stations and on train’.
Start typing the name of your station in to the search box.
The website will try to guess what you are typing and show suggestions
that you can select to save you typing the name in full.
Activate the search button and you should be presented with an overview page
with key information about the station that you’ve chosen.
If you hover your mouse or focus your keyboard on these icons at the top
you’ll get quick information on the basic features at the station
such as seating and toilets.
Scroll down for a more detailed information
about transport links, car parks, taxi ranks and more.
Station car parks are often not run by the train companies
so you will want to take a note of the contact details of the company who do operate it
if you need to enquire about reserving a disabled parking space, for example.
You will also find basic accessibility information here
- are the ticket counters accessible, is there an induction loop,
are there accessible toilets and do I need a RADAR key to use one?
Of course you may need more information about the layout of the station
- how easy will it be to get from one part to another, or one platform to another?
This is where the ‘Stations made easy’ features really help.
Look for the ‘Stations made easy’ lable near the top of the page and click on the ‘show route’ link.
You’ll now be on the ‘Stations made easy’ overview page for your station.
At the top you’ll see a status report - this will tell you if any part of the station is closed or out of bounds.
Beneath it is the station map or plan.
Click it for a larger interactive version.
A legend explaining the symbols on the map is directly beneath it.
But the best way to explore the station is to hover your mouse over any symbol or part of the station such as a platform or car park.
You don’t have to rely on a mouse for this, you can use the tab key on your keyboard to do it,
to switch the focus from one object on the map to the next.
And when you do this a photo and a brief description of that feature pops up.
Clicking on an item opens a page with the full information
and the option to click the image again for a large version.
So you can read detailed information or view for yourself how far the car park,
taxi rank or bus stop is from the station entrance.
But you don’t have to browse the entire station in this way, just to find out
Just to find out if there will be any obstacles when you pass through.
Go back to the ‘Stations made easy’ overview page and select ‘Plan a Route’ from the side menu.
Using the drop-down menu enter where you want to go from and to within the station.
Then select if you want to be shown routes that involve any steps
and click the ‘Show Routes’ button at the bottom.
First you will see a summary of the route available.
Scroll down past the station plan and you will find a guide to your route
with step-by-step instructions and photos so you can study every part of your route
to verify that it will be accessible to you.
Click on any photo for a larger version.
These detailed photos allow you to preview every segment
of your accessible route through the station.
Now scroll down to the bottom of the route. You will find a button to print it out.
You will also find a number for the Assisted Travel Team, in case you have any questions.
Remember this is a number for the team at this station only;
other stations will have their own 0800 number.