Accessibility Guide for Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Travel by public transport

You can get to Isle of Wight Steam Railway by bus, train and boat or ferry.

There are regular buses to Wootton, where the bus stop is right outside the station. Catch the no.9 bus from Ryde to Newport (via Staplers). www.islandbuses.info There are no buses to our main station at Havenstreet. The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

The nearest train station is Smallbrook Junction. The train station is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

The nearest port is Ryde. The port is 4 miles / 6.4 km from Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Fast Cat passenger ferries from Portsmouth Harbour arrive at Ryde Pier Head. From here join the Island Line train for the 9 minute journey to Smallbrook Junction station, where there is a cross-platform interchange with the steam railway.

Alternatively use the hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde. On arrival cross the line to the nearby Ryde Esplanade station and take the Island Line train form the 7 minute journey to Smallbrook Junction.

There are three car ferries to the Isle of Wight:

* Portsmouth to Fishbourne www.wightlink.co.uk (10-15 minute drive to Havenstreet)

* Southampton to East Cowes www.redfunnel.co.uk (20-25 mimute drive to Havenstreet)

* Lymington to Yarmouth www.wightlink.co.uk (35-45 minute drive to Havenstreet)

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Ryde Taxis by calling 01983811111. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Parking

There is a large free car park at Havenstreet station with a tarmac surface. There are several disabled parking bays with level access to the booking office. On busier days, such as when special events are running, we have a larger overflow car park with gravel paths and a grass parking area. There is a smaller car park at Wootton station. At Wootton there is a sloping gravel footpath from the car park to the platform which isn't recommended for wheelchairs. There is no road access to either Ashey or Smallbrook Junction stations.

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

Ticket/ information desk

Booking Office

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Train Story Discovery Centre

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 1600mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Some videos have subtitles.

Access to the Train Story Discovery Centre is via a concrete path and wooden walkway via the Carriage & Wagon Workshop.

Once inside, a lift and ramps provide level access to view the exterior of all the locomotives and carriages. Some exhibits require a small step up from platform level. Access into the Class 483 Underground train, and the Pollard tram is via a flight of wooden steps. 

 

Events Barn

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 2200mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Our large Events Barn is used for a variety of special events throughout the year. There are large doors reached via a concrete path. There is a brick block paving floor.

Carriage & Wagon Workshop

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 880mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Viewing gallery to see carriage restoration in action

Public toilet

Station Yard toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 860mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 820mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Events Barn toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Train Story toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

The toilets have handrails.

Shop

Railway Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 1400mm wide.

Place to eat and drink

Station Cafe

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 1350mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Place to eat and drink

T-Junction kiosk

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The door is 1350mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Outdoor refreshment kiosk with adjacent picnic area on grassy area

Place to eat and drink

Coffee Container refreshment kiosk

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more. To get to a table, there are no steps.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian and vegan specific diets.

Outdoor refrsehment kiosk with adjacent picnic area on grassy area

Museum Gallery

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

The door is 850mm wide.

The museum gallery is accessed via a ramp from the Railway Shop

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.

The route is 860mm wide, or more.

Designated Walking Trail

Woodland Walk

The trail is 200metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. Steps and wooden bridges The trail has seats.

Rough woodland path with tree roots, wooden steps and bridges. Access to the Woodland Stage.

Havenstreet station platform

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 860mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1250mm wide.

Railway Carriages

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

Our carriages date from the Victorian and Edwardian era; most have traditional seperate compartments. Our standard compartments have a door approximately 550mm wide and require a step up from the platform. 

We have a portable walking ramp available for any passengers with restricted mobility who require step-free access to the carriage. Wheelchairs and walking aids can be taken to the carriage door and then carried in the guards van for the duration of the journey.

In addition each train has two wheelchair accessible compartments. These have been specially adapted to include double doors which can be reached by a portable ramp. Please book online then call or email us if you would like us to reserve a wheelchair compartment for you.

Smallbrook Junction station

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1000mm wide, or more.

Access via wooden ramp from the Island Line platform.

Please note that there is no road or foot access to Smallbrook Junction - access only by train

Wootton Station

Access from car park to the platform by steep gravel path

Ashey Station

Rural station with no road access. Access to the platform by footpath.

Playground

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 860mm wide, or more.

Access via stone steps, or by sloping gravel path into grassy area

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We have a hearing loop in Booking offices at Havenstreet, Wootton and Smallbrook Junction.