Introduction

 

The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum aims to welcome all members of society into its Museum, regardless of sex, age, social status, ethic origin or ability. In support of this aim, Our Access Policy sets out criteria for providing access to the Museum's collections. It aims to promote understanding and enjoyment of the collections through a wide range of means, as resources allow. However, due to the age and nature of the types of rail and transport vehicles and services operated at the Museum some types of mobility scooters may not be suitable and therefore cannot be carried. 

 

The Museum plans to be fully accessible where possible.

 

Mobility

 

Our Rolling Stock and Operational Demonstration Line/Railway

 

Specially adapted vehicles, which allow wheelchair access, will be available once premises have been acquired and will accommodate wheelchairs that are within the dimensions prescribed in government regulations covering public transport (700mm wide by 1200mm long). 

• Width: 700 millimetres
• Length (including footplate): 1200 millimetres
• Weight (loaded): no more 230kg (36 stone), which is the safe limit that many of our planned ramps will be able to carry.

Where stations or platforms will be located, ramps will be made available which will connect between trains and the platforms. The volunteers on duty will assist visitors in wheelchairs if required: they will all be trained to do this. 

 

We will once premises have been acquired strongly recommend all wheelchair users to seek advice prior to booking. Suitable (dis)abled accommodation on-site will be strictly limited and only available on a first come, first served basis. 

 

Due to operational difficulties, wheelchair accommodation may sometimes be unavailable at short notice. 

 

PLEASE DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS WITH OUT STAFF BEFORE BOOKING.

 

We will only be able to accommodate standard designs of wheelchair and mobility scooter. Unfortunately, some larger vehicles will be too wide and too heavy to traverse the ramp into our vehicles. 

 

Some powered scooters are effectively road vehicles and will be therefore unsuitable for our heritage vehicles. This is because the majority of mobility scooters have a wider turning circles than wheelchairs occupying the same space and tend to be heavier and therefore would not be appropriate to take on board trains with the confined space in the vehicles. We will however undertake where possible to carry those models of scooter that can be folded down into lightweight manageable components and those that fit within the wheelchair size above.

 

It will be the visitor's responsibility where possible to load the scooter on and off the train and we ask the (dis)abled passenger or their companion to ensure that the scooter is folded down ready to board prior to train's arrival. Assistance may be requested from either member of the on-board train crew or station staff. The folded scooters can be stored safely in the luggage compartments. 

 

For reasons of safety, powered wheelchairs and scooters must not exceed 2mph on platforms and must not go near the platform edge.

 

PLEASE DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS WITH OUT STAFF BEFORE BOOKING.

 

For those who are able to walk a short distance, wheelchairs can be folded down and carried in our brake vans on demonstration vacuum fitted freight and goods trains on special occasions where visitors may be permitted to travel once premises have been acquired. 

 

Our Platforms and Stations

 

While we are trying to recreate a bygone age from as early as the 1800's until 1986, we have where possible designed the site so that it is access friendly as much as physically possible.

 

Our platforms and stations will be accessible via platform ramps and barrow crossings between platforms and it will therefore be necessary to cross the line by being escorted by station staff and volunteers on duty.

 

The site will have a number of designated parking bays that will be situated as close to the Museum entrance as possible.

 

The Booking Office, shop and catering facilities will be located at ground/platform level and will all be accessible to wheelchairs. The catering facility will have loose chairs enabling (dis)abled persons in wheelchairs to access the tables.

 

Please note that some mobile phone networks may not work in the area which the museum may be located in.

 

There will be at least one emergency wheelchair for use by First Aid at the Main site.

 

Concessions for Carers and (Dis)abled People.

 

Our policy will admit the necessary companion, or carer, of a (dis)abled visitor to travel free of charge on our demonstration line/railway, while the normal concession membership or fare will apply to (dis)abled visitors. 

 

Carers tickets will be obtainable from our Booking Office on the day. We may request that visitors requiring carers tickets please produce the relevant forms (Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Invalidity Benefit, Visual Impairment, Blue/Orange Parking Permit) or written confirmation from the DWP with photographic identification.

 

Assistance Dogs

 

We recognise that these dogs provide assistance not only for the sight impaired but also those with hearing loss, epilepsy, diabetes, physical mobility problems and more. Assistance Dogs are welcome in our catering facilities, on our trains, in our museum and other visitor areas. We also welcome Assistance Dogs in training provided they are accredited as such. 

 

Assistance Dogs (and those in training) travel free on our trains.

 

Our full access Statement and Policy will be available to download below: 

 

- Coming Soon -