Access at Brookwood

[OneOffDave]

I'm looking to relocate to the Surrey/Hampshire border area and I've seen a house near Brookwood Station. As a wheelchair user I've got to pick my stations carefully. does anyone know if Brookwood would be any good for commuting to and from Waterloo using a chair?

If not, any recommendations about accessible stations in that general area would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Alfie1014]

The plans and info on National Rail is a good starting point.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_BKO/plan.html?rtnloc=BKO

This suggests that Brookwood is accessible both sides, but not between platforms.

 

[swt_passenger]

I don't think the down side platform is wheelchair accessible according to the photos on 'stations made easy'.

There seems to be a flaw in the 'stations made easy' data, it does say the P2 entrance door can be used by wheelchair users unaided, but AFAICT that only gets you to a lobby with stairs up to P2 or down to the subway.

SWT's website has a more accurate description:

Platform 1 (trains to Woking and London) - step free access from station forecourt off Connaught Road through either the booking hall or side gate.

Platform Two (trains to Farnborough and Basingstoke) - no step free access. Interchange - There is no step free interchange between platforms.

Passengers are advised to join the train on platform 1 and change at Woking Passengers travelling from/to Farnham and Alton are advised to use Woking station.

 

[duncanp]

You might also want to look at Fleet, two stations further down the line towards Basingstoke.

The station has been upgraded recently, and both platforms are accessible to wheelchair users.

Most importantly, there is also a lift that allows you to transfer bewteen platforms.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/fle/details.html

 

[OneOffDave]

Yes, I think it's going to be Fleet, Farnborough Main, Aldershot, Alton and Farnham as the stations I'll be able to use. I'm hoping not to have to travel as far out as Basingstoke if I can avoid it. I looked at houses in Hook and Hartley Witney and the weekend and thought that I'd have to use Fleet or Farnborough Main. I know that Farnham involves leaving the station to cross from one side to the other but that route's not too bad.

I need to have a look at those stations in the rush hour too, to see how early the accessible spaces get filled.

 

[duncanp]

Perhaps it is worth taking a trip to see all of the stations you mention, just to see what they are really like from a wheelchair users' point of view.

Alton, being at the end of the line, would have an advantage in that it will be easier for you to get on to the train whilst it is waiting at the terminus rather than at a station where the train is stopped for only a minute or two. This would also apply in the reverse direction from Waterloo in that you could take your time getting off after everyone else, rather than having to get stressed about whether the ramp will be there, or whether the train will leave before you have had a chance to get off.

 

[OneOffDave]

Perhaps it is worth taking a trip to see all of the stations you mention, just to see what they are really like from a wheelchair users' point of view.

Alton, being at the end of the line, would have an advantage in that it will be easier for you to get on to the train whilst it is waiting at the terminus rather than at a station where the train is stopped for only a minute or two. This would also apply in the reverse direction from Waterloo in that you could take your time getting off after everyone else, rather than having to get stressed about whether the ramp will be there, or whether the train will leave before you have had a chance to get off.

If Waterloo is anything like Euston, you always have to wait for the ramp. It's often a 5-10 minute wait and today I had to get myself off the train as the passengers for the outbound service were starting to board before the ramp had arrived. I think I'm going to have to take a couple of days off work so I can see all these stations in the rush hour to get an idea of which one might be best.

 

[TEW]

I don't think I've seen anyone have to wait that long for a ramp at Waterloo, normally the staff are there straight away. All SWT services have a guard who can deploy a ramp when there are no platform staff available too.