Welsh Highland Railway - Access Statement
The WHR is a historic narrow gauge railway. We welcome customers of all
abilities.
We operate a fleet of mainly modern carriages and all of our normal service
trains have space available for customers with mobility impairments including
some wheelchair spaces. As space is inevitably limited, we strongly recommend
that wheelchair users contact us in advance in order that we can make suitable
arrangements. This will help us to make your visit a pleasurable one. A step and
wheelchair ramp are carried on all normal trains and these are available to help
you to access the trains – please ask a member of staff.
Wheelchair users please note: our ramps
have a weight limit of 250kg. They will take an ordinary wheelchair, plus user,
plus pusher or a small battery operated chair. However, they are not suitable
for motorized scooters or buggies. We do have ordinary wheelchairs at Caernarfon
and Pont Croesor that may be borrowed for the duration of your visit. It is also
worth noting that although we can accommodate wheelchairs in the trains we do
not have turning spaces in the train due to the narrowness of our carriages, and
the space for wheelchairs in the carriages is constrained below what one would
expect on a main line train for the same reason. There is a staff train toilet
on all of our normal service trains which is available to customers on request.
Owing to its small dimensions, we regret that this toilet is not suitable for
wheelchair users.
Certain special services operate entirely with vintage carriages and we regret
that, at this stage, they are not suitable for customers who need to remain in
their wheelchairs and have no toilet facilities.
We welcome assistance dogs in all our carriages.
If you have any questions as to how we can help you further, please do not
hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help you to plan your visit.
Telephone us on 01766 516000, 01766 516024 or 01286 677018.
Facilities at our stations are as follows:
Caernarfon
This is our main terminus station situated close to the castle. We recommend
that you start your journey from here.
There is a level rough gravel car park from which the booking office / shop is
accessed via a gentle ramp. There is a drop off point by the car park entrance.
There is a low level counter. The ladies’ and gentlemen’s toilets are situated
behind the main building. There is also an accessible toilet with baby changing
facilities situated inside the shop within the main building.
The platform is accessed by a gentle ramp.
Bontnewydd Halt
This halt is accessible from the adjacent Lôn Eifion cycle path. The path is
tarmac and level in most places. There is no road access.
Dinas
There is a small tarmac car park but to access the station and trains, it is
necessary to negotiate a kerb. Once negotiated, the rest of the area including
access to both platforms is level. There are toilets on site including an
accessible one.
Waunfawr
The station is at the south end of the village on the A4085 adjacent to the
Snowdonia Parc Brewpub. The car park belongs to the pub but may be used by
visitors travelling on the railway. It has a deep gravel surface, making it
difficult for people with restricted mobility or to manoeuvre a wheelchair over.
Access to the platform is normally by a footbridge but there is a rough, gently
sloping path through the pub’s campsite. There are no facilities on the
platform.
The pub itself is wheelchair friendly and when open, has accessible toilets. It
may be possible to arrange help in advance for railway passengers wishing to use
the pub for a meal. Telephone the pub on 01286 650409.
Plas y Nant Halt
This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no level access.
Snowdon Ranger Halt
This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no level access.
Rhyd Ddu
The station is to the south of the village beside the A4085. The car park here
belongs to the Snowdonia National Park Authority and there is only very limited
parking available. The National Park Authority has an accessible toilet in the
car park for RADAR key holders.
The platform is accessed via a tarmac ramp and level foot crossing. There is a
waiting shelter, and also a small booking office which is open on busy days.
Meillionen (Forest campsite)
This halt is situated within the Beddgelert Forest Campsite, primarily for the
use of campers. There is level access to the platform through a small gate.
This is a short platform and only certain
carriages on the train will be accessible from it. It is therefore advisable to
phone Caernarfon booking office on 01766 516024 before 0930 on the morning of
travel so that the guard of the train can be made aware of your requirements. If
joining at another station and travelling to Mellionen halt, you must advise the
guard BEFORE boarding that you wish to alight at the camp site.
Beddgelert
This station is situated above the village with access through the public car
park near the Royal Goat Hotel. This car park belongs to the Snowdonia National
Park Authority and there is only very limited parking available. Between the car
park and the station there is a long tarmac ‘zig-zag’ sloping path which is
relatively steep but usable by wheelchairs. The slope is down hill from the
platform to the car park. There is level access on/off the platform and the
ticket/information office is situated beside the entrance to the platform. If
this is not manned, tickets may be purchased from the guard of the train. There
are temporary toilets including an accessible toilet with ramped access close to
the gate on to the platform.
Once in the car park, the main village street is only a short distance away.
Pavements are quite narrow but it is possible to use a wheelchair. There is a
pleasant wheelchair friendly walk beside the river.
Nantmor
The halt is accessed from the minor road through the village. There is no
parking facility at the halt and the road slopes steeply at this point. The
nearest car park is owned by the National Trust approximately a quarter of a
mile away. There are toilets in this car park. Passengers wishing to alight at
Nantmor should do so by prior request to the guard. Although the platform itself
is accessible, there are no facilities other than a small shelter at or near to
this location so it is recommended for use by able-bodied walkers only.
Pont Croesor
This station is the temporary terminus of the line and is situated on the B4410
between Prenteg and Llanfrothen villages beside the Glaslyn Osprey Project. The
railway has a clearly defined car park that has a rough compacted slate waste
surface. There is a steep slope to the station and facilities but there is also
a more gently sloping access via the farm crossing directly beside the station
building. A tarmaced path across this vehicular access leads to a small gate. If
arriving with an able bodied car driver, it is possible to drop off at this
point and from this gate there is almost level tarmaced access to the station
building toilets and platform. The station building is accessed via a short
ramp. There are temporary toilets including an accessible toilet with ramped
access.
The RSPB site is over the level crossing roadway but there is a cattle grid onto
their site making access difficult for those with impaired mobility or
wheelchair.
Mobile Phone Coverage
Generally available between Caernarfon and Waunfawr, patchy further south with
no coverage at Rhyd Ddu. Between Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert, coverage is very poor
although the Orange network is available in Beddgelert. There is no coverage at
Nantmor but coverage on most networks at Pont Croesor.
Refreshments
Light refreshments are available via an at-your-seat refreshment trolley in all
but the older non-corridor carriages.
Blind and partially sighted customers
Welcome Aboard Leaflets and on-train refreshment menus are available in Braille
or large print for loan from the On Train Services team.
Last updated June 2010.