Accessibility Guide for Pickering Station

Welcome

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. Join us to enjoy a family day out on board a heritage steam or diesel train and relax in one of our vintage carriages as we take you on a scenic journey through the beautiful North York Moors National Park.

The railway now runs for 24 miles from Pickering through to the seaside at Whitby and our characterful 1930s themed station at Pickering has it's original roof structure and charming tearooms.

The NYMR is owned and operated by a charitable trust, with 100 full time staff and over 1000 volunteers. It's considered to be the UK’s finest heritage railway.

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Accessible Carriage Ticket Office Customer Services Accessible Toilet on Platform Accessible Toilet in Accessible Railway Carriage Tea Room Station Shop Visitor Centre Platforms

There is level access from the car park to:

Picnic Area

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in Station Tea Rooms and Customer Services / Booking Office..

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

Glass doors have contrast markings.

The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

The menu is in large print.

We have information in large print.

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

North Yorkshire Moors Railway,

Pickering

Y018 7AJ

Travel by public transport

You can get to Pickering Station by bus.

The Coastliner bus service provides services to Pickering. The nearest bus stop is located outside the library. The bus stop is 0.2 miles / 0.3 km from Pickering Station.

There is a level access route from the bus stop outside the library to Pickering Station.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Station Taxis by calling 01653 696969. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with Pickering Taxis by calling 01751 617181. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

The station is served by the Coastliner bus service. The nearest National Rail station which serves Pickering is Malton Station.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The path is sloped.

The route is 1000mm wide, or more.

There is a North Yorkshire Moors Railway car park with accessible parking spaces. This is a 'pay and display' car park which costs £5.00 per day to park (price correct as of 21/03/23). Blue badge holders are allowed to park for free. There are a number of accessible parking bays situated close to the gradual slope which leads to the railway station platform.

There is a level access route to both platforms and to all the other facilities on the site which are denoted by blue signage. You can also download a map from our website.

Passengers who are not using the car park may enter the platform via a level access route in front of the station on Park Street.

Drop off point next to large double gates via Park Street

Level access route into the station from Park Street nearest to bus stop

Arrival

Path to main entrance

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

The path is 1000mm wide, or more.

The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

There are three options for entering Pickering Station.

1: Level access route from the visitor car park
There is a short, gentle slope leading from the accessible parking bays onto the platform and other facilities. This route is clearly marked with blue signs.

2: Stepped access to the ticket office from Park Street.
There are four steps with a central handrail.

3: Level access route from Park Street via a gradual slope.
There is a level access entrance which leads to both platforms and all other facilities and has blue signage.

Four steps leading to ticket office and platform from Park Street with central handrail

Level access route from Park Street leading to both platforms

Level access pathway leads on to platform

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Green painted door of Customer Services against natural stone walls

Ticket/ information desk

Ticket Office

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

This ticket office is a window with a counter.

There is low lighting in the car park and along the route into the station, whch is generally only open during daylight hours.

Ticket/ information desk

Customer Services

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 1100mm wide, or more.

The door is 1100mm wide, or more.

The Customer Services office is a small area with minimal circulation space measuring 1720mm x 2200mm. When the door is open this space is reduced to 1920mm x 1280mm. The counter height is 930mm.

There is a hearing loop system in the Customer Services office and ear defenders are available to borrow.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have display information in: large print.

Accessible Carriage

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The door is 1200mm wide.

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

There are four new, wheelchair accessible railway carriages available at the railway. There is a designated space on board for wheelchair users with adjacent pull down seats to accommodate accompanying passengers. Additional wheelchair accessible space is available in the previously used cycle storage carriage, although this does not have seating provided for accompanying passengers for whom a portable seat is provided, if required.

There is a portable ramp which provides easy access into the carriages for wheelchair users and others with mobility needs and staff are on hand to assist, when needed.

There is restricted leg room in the seating areas within all of the carriages. Any visitors requiring additional leg room are advised to contact the station to reserve one of the limited number of seats where this is available.

There are signs on both platforms to show where the accessible carriage will stop.

Public toilet

Accessible Toilet on Platform

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 900mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

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

There is 1000mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1600mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 440mm high. The toilets have handrails.

This accessible facility has an emergency alarm fitted to alert staff, if required.

Public toilet

Accessible Toilet in Accessible Railway Carriage

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

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

The route is 800mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 800mm wide.

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

There is 840mm at the side of the toilet. The toilet seat is 530mm high. The toilets have handrails.

This accessible toilet is an unusual shape in order to accommodate the facility within the carriage design. The toilet is situated at an angle to the entrance door, within easy reach of the sink and the several grab rails. There is one drop down horizontal grab rail on the transfer side of the toilet and a wall mounted grab rail on the opposite side, as shown in the photographs.

A baby changing table is also located in this toilet facility.

On board accessible toilet facility showing toilet, sink, grab rails and toilet layout

On board accessible toilet facility showing wheelchair transfer space and wall-mounted baby changing facility

Shop

Station Shop

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

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

The shop is accessed through the Tea Room and has a counter height of 1000mm.

Place to eat and drink

Tea Room

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The door is 1000mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The menu is offered in large print.

The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

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

There is no background music.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free) and vegan specific diets.

The Tea Room has a selection of tables and seating options including bench seats and dining chairs without arms. Furniture is flexible and can be manoeuvred to create extra space, if required. We also have large handled cutlery available.

There is a hearing loop system in the Station Tea Room.

Visitor Centre

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1160mm wide, or more.

The door is 1160mm wide.

From the main platform there is permanent, access ramp with dual height handrails at either side, leading to the Exhibition Room entrance. This space can also be accessed via three steps which have handrails at either side along with good visual contrast on the step edges and tactile paving at the top and bottom.

This small exhibition space has numerous items of interest and lots of information on the history of the North York Moors Railway, including a number of interactive displays. There is a walkway around the space measuring 900mm at its narrowest point.

Aerial view showing ramped access into the Visitor Centre

Inside the Visitor Centre showing wheelchair accessible circulation space

Getting around outside

Picnic Area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

This small picnic area is located close to the end of the railway line next to the level access pathway onto the platform. There are three wheelchair accessible picnic tables and a small play train for younger visitors (this equipment is not wheelchair accessible).

Platforms

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

There are two platforms at Pickering Station with level access routes available to both with blue signage. Seating is also available on the platforms, on which a book stall and various items of railway memorabilia can also be found.

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We have a hearing loop in Station Tea Rooms and Customer Services / Booking Office..

Ear defenders are available to borrow from Customer Services.

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is adjacent to the visitor car park.

Station Guard pushing passenger in wheelchair

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have information in large print.

There is a hearing loop system in our Customer Services / Booking Office and also in the Station Tea Rooms.