Can I take my mobility scooter on a train?

Journeying by train is one of the best and cheapest ways to travel. You can take long-distance trips through towns and cities, enjoying scenic views and comfortable amenities as you cross the UK.

Best of all, it’s a legal requirement that trains be accessible to all customers: whether you use a mobility scooter, walking frame or wheelchair. 

However, it’s worth noting that each train operator has different policies on mobility scooters, so you’ll need to check the rules before planning your trip. Luckily, Millercare is here to help! 

We’ve compiled a guide of up-to-date information on taking your mobility scooter on a train: are there any weight restrictions? Do you need a permit? We’ve put everything together in one place for your travelling convenience!

Can you take mobility scooters on trains?

The short answer is: you can take your mobility scooter on some trains, but not all. Whether your scooter is permitted will depend on the train operator you’re boarding with and their policies. 

Mobility scooters come in many shapes and sizes, so each operator will enforce restrictions based on their carriages layout, seating arrangements, the stations they board at, and more. 

There are 28 major train operators in the UK. Below, we’ve given examples of five operators and their policies on mobility scooters. To find information about your train operators' mobility scooter policies, type their names and ‘mobility scooters’ into your search engine.

1. MerseyRail

If your scooter meets the following dimensions, you will be issued an ‘Access Pass’ that allows you to travel on MerseyRail trains: width 28 inches (70cm), length 48 inches (120cm), and a combined weight of 300kg.

2. West Midlands Railway

You will be able to travel in your mobility scooter on the West Midlands Railway, providing it is:

  • Three-wheeled or has a triangular footprint (front wheels close together)
  • Is no more than 700mm wide and 1200mm long, weighs no more than 300kg, including the person
  • Has a maximum speed of 4mph, a free-wheeling facility for use in case of power failure, sealed batteries and can negotiate gradients of eight degrees or more.

3. Transpennine Express

The Transpennine Express permits travellers to board with foldable mobility scooters. 

Once folded, you can request help from staff to lift the scooter on and off the train and store it safely on one of the onboard luggage stacks. 

However, if you want to ride your scooter on and off the train and then transfer to a seat, you must apply for a ‘Scooter Card’ to ensure your mobility vehicle is safe. 

4. London North Eastern Railway 

London North Eastern Railway customers can take mobility scooters on their trains if they are within 1200mm x 700mm. Anything larger must be folded and transported as luggage.

5. Transport for Wales

You can bring mobility scooters on Transport for Wales trains so long as they have the following:

  • dimensions of up to 700mm x 1200mm (including footplates);
    a turning radius of 900mm
    a maximum combined weight (wheelchair and passenger) of 300kg.

What is a DPPP document?

As you can see, the requirements for mobility scooters vary up and down the country. Each train operator has a DPPP document outlining how they make their railway services more accessible to disabled and elderly customers. 

So if you need more information on mobility scooter policies for the train operator you’ll be riding with, we’ve linked the remaining 23 below:

Are there any restrictions on taking mobility scooters on trains?

Most train operators place restrictions based on the combined weight of the chair and the individual and the scooter’s size.

Weight and Measurement

The general consensus is that mobility scooters with dimensions of up to 700mm x 1200mm are acceptable for travel. The maximum combined weight of the individual and the chair is 300kg in most cases. 

However, not all! The maximum operating load of the ramp for the Island Line services (part of South Western Railway services operating in the Isle of White) is 230 kg, so it’s vital not to assume these figures as standard for each operator.

Why can’t I take my mobility scooter on a train?

There may be some scenarios where you cannot board the train in your mobility scooter, even if your vehicle meets the correct weight requirements and dimensions. There could be many reasons for this, each of which puts traveller safety first.

Crowded

Peak train times are points where commuters use the services most. These are usually between 6:30am-9:30am (when people travel to work) and 4:30pm-7pm (when people return home). 

During peak times, the carriages may become overcrowded: this may mean that boarding in your mobility scooter becomes uncomfortable or impossible to do in a restricted time frame. Try booking your train tickets outside peak hours for a more convenient journey.

Unsafe

The train and train station conditions may be too unsafe for you to board safely. For example, you may not have enough overhead space to store your foldable mobility scooter. Or, the gap between the station side and the train may be too big for the scooter to board.

Do I need a permit to take a mobility scooter on a train?

Only some operators require a permit for mobility scooter train travel. Check the DPPP document of your train operator to be completely sure. Below, we’ve made a list of all the UK operators who request a permit for travel:

  • East Midlands: EMR requires you to purchase a Scooter Card for travelling with a mobility scooter. 

  • Transpennine Express: With Transpennine Express services, you can travel with a mobility scooter without a permit if you fold your vehicle into overhead storage. If you’d prefer not to do this, you can purchase a Scooter Card. 

  • Great Western: Great Western Railway require passengers travelling in mobility scooters to have a permit if their vehicle is not foldable.

Shop for Train-Compliant Mobility Scooters with Millercare!

If you’re looking for train-compliant Mobility Scooters, shop with Millercare. 

We offer a diverse range of Folding Mobility Scooters for your ultimate travelling convenience. Pack up, fold away and store your new purchase in the overhead compartment, ready for boarding!