Accessible rail travel done right
Just back from a day out from Salisbury to Exeter with my wife and daughter using South Western Railway. Although their rolling stock is old (partly due to no electrification of the West of England line), and some of the stations could do with a lick of paint, I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful - particularly when travelling with my daughter in her wheelchair.
I booked the tickets using the Trainsplit app (it makes it so much easier to try and get the best fares and to navigate the sheer hell that is the UK rail ticket pricing structure) on the day before our travel so that we could take opportunity of the Advance fares that tie you to specific trains, but can offer significant discounts.
As well as booking the tickets on that app, I also use the National Rail Passenger Assistance app to give advance notice that we would be travelling and the kind of assistance we would need.
The assistance booking was confirmed within minutes of making it, and on the day everyone was expecting us - called my daughter by her name - and was extremely friendly, reassuring and helpful.
We had a fantastic day out and enjoyed some lovely October sunshine - all helped by the staff we encountered at both Salisbury and Exeter Central railway stations, and on the trains themselves.
