Welcome to Nene Valley Railway (NVR)
At NVR we encourage and welcome everyone who wants to enjoy time at our heritage railway sites and travelling on our trains. Our goal is to create an experience that is accessible for all people of various needs and abilities within the scope that our heritage status allows. Unfortunately, this means that some aspects of our sites may not be fully accessible to everyone; these areas are identified in sections below.
NVR welcomes customers with hidden disabilities, wheelchair users, mobility scooter users and buggy users at our sites and on board our services. The majority of our sites are suitable for manual wheelchairs but in places another person may be required with pushing due to some areas having gravel ground cover. These areas are identified in sections below.
We hope that this page will provide you with all the information you require to make an informed decision when planning your visit to us.
If you cannot find the information that you require; please do not hesitate to contact our office (adminassistant@nvr.org.uk) who will be happy to help you further.
Disabled Car Parking
Wansford
- Disabled parking is available for Blue Badge holders at our Wansford Station site.
- The parking bays are located next to the Childrens Playground and are clearly identified by Disabled Parking signs on the fence.
- We also ask that users show consideration when parking e.g. leaving enough room between cars to allow doors to be fully opened
- Please display your blue badge on the front dashboard of your car.
- There is no time limit on the use of these bays.
- Please be advised that the car park and path at Wansford is currently gravelled and as a result can be quite bumpy. Manual wheelchair users may prefer assistance over this ground.
- As disabled parking spaces are limited, on special event days they may become full quite quickly. Disabled customers are welcome to park in other areas of the car park which may be a further distance from the entrance. If appropriate, a disabled customer could be 'dropped off' outside the station building prior to their allocated driver parking the car.
Overton
- There is no specific NVR car parking at Overton
- NVR customers wishing to alight/depart the train at Overton are required to park at Ferry Meadows car park (in accordance to their parking regulations) and make your way to Overton station.
- There is a pavement next to the road to the stations and ramp access to the station platform.
Orton Mere
- There is no specific NVR car parking at Orton Mere.
- NVR customers wishing to alight/depart at Orton Mere are required to park in Nene Park's car park (in accordance with their parking regulations) and walk to Orton Mere station.
- There is level access to the station on both side.
Peterborough Nene Valley Station (PNV)
- There is no specific NVR car parking at PNV but NVR customers can park in the Railworld car park (please pop into Railworld to pay for car parking if you only intend to travel on the train).
- Railworld's car park is a gravelled surface but cars can be parked close to PNV entrance.
- There is ramped access to PNV
Yarwell
- There is no vehicular access to Yarwell station
Access to Other Facilities at our Stations
Wansford
- From the car park, the path can be followed to the front of Wansford Station where there is step free access to the main building. Please be advised that the path from the car park can be quite bumpy and manual wheelchair users may require assistance.
- Once inside the main building, the booking office, gift shop and cafe are all on this level and easily accessed.
- Outside the cafe is an accessible toilet with baby changing area. An additional baby changing area is located downstairs in the ladies toilets.
- An additional accessible toilet is situated outside by the Miniature Railway. Please be advised that there is currently a relatively steep ramp and two railway tracks to navigate to use this facility. Manual wheelchair users (and some mobility scooter users) may require assistance to access this area.
- From the rear of the main station building; Platform 2 (the main platform), Platform 1 (to the left of the footbridge) and the Barnwell building are all easily accessible.
- The footbridge to Platform 3 has 20 steps and a handrail for those with some mobility. Otherwise, at this time, wheelchair users, mobility scooter users and those with buggies can reach Platform 3 by exiting the front of the main station building, crossing the tracks and using the ramped access on the opposite side.
- Access to the museum area is via the rear of the station building and the steep ramp. The surface area is mostly compacted gravel but wheelchair users may require some assistance.
- Unfortunately, wheelchair users/mobility scooter users will be unable to access the static engine near the museum as steps are required to access the footplate.
- The Museum building is fully accessible to all.
- The bookshop, miniature railway/shop and children's playground are also accessible from the rear of the main station building and down the steeper slope. This area is partly paved but also has compacted gravel.
- There is a viewing platform over the workshop at the far end of the Wansford site. There are 16 steps on the main staircase, with three landings at intervals going up. There is one shallow step in the doorway. Handrails are available on both sides of the stairs. Unfortunately, wheelchair users/mobility scooter users will be unable to access the viewing platform
- Outside, in our car park are the Charity Shop and Railwayana. Once over the gravelled car park, the area around these shops are paved to allow for easier access.
Above photo shows the stairs to the viewing platform
Overton
- There is a small cafe at Overton that has level access
- Outside is a small toilet unit; although it has level access it is not accessible in a wheelchair.
Orton Mere
- There are no public toilets at Orton Mere
PNV
- There are currently no toilets at PNV (but there are some in Railworld).
- There is a small shop at PNV which is wheelchair accessible.
NB: a new station building is currently being erected at PNV, which once completed will provide toilet facilities, including an accessible toilet.
Our Accessibility Coach
NVR are proud to have an accessibility coach available on the majority of our trains for use by wheelchair users and those with additional needs, including hidden disabilities, should they require it.
Our accessible coach has:
- Wider entry doors and a portable ramp for easier access.
- A purpose built toilet that can be accessed by wheelchair users and contains an emergency alarm.
- Two sets of seats adapted specifically for wheelchair users. These allow one wheelchair user to sit per table with two other passengers on standard seats.
- Two sets of standard coach seats with a table (suitable for 4 passengers with some mobility to transfer into the seats).
- In addition to the seated areas, the accessible coach also has a large open space which would be suitable for wheelchair passengers who would prefer not to be at a table or parents with double buggies. Unfortunately, at present there are no seats for accompanying passengers in this open area.
- Please be aware that there may be a delay in assisting you off the coach. In order to attach the ramp, the guard must await confirmation that the train's brakes have been fully activated, at which point they will assist.
Due to the limited availability of wheelchair/mobility scooter specific seating; we advise that where possible you contact us to pre-book tickets in the accessibility coach if you know when you plan to travel. This will be especially important when we are running special events when demand may be greater. Obviously, we welcome bookings on the day - please make it known at the Booking Office that you will require access to the accessibility coach - but should all seats in the coach already be taken; you may be required to secure yourself in the open space instead.
If there will be 3+ wheelchairs in your travelling party, it would be helpful if advanced notice can be provided to ensure that we can meet your needs. We will also need to ensure that we can provide access to the accessibility coach for everyone.
To pre-book please contact us on - 01780 784444
Once you have arrived for your train journey, please speak to a member of staff/volunteer on the platform who will be happy to assist you and ensure that the ramp is secured for you. If you wish to alight at any of the other stations during your journey, please alert the guard who can arrange for the ramp to be engaged for you.
For those without limited mobility but who wish to access the accessible coach due to other sensory issues/hidden disabilities, it can be reached via the adjoining carriage.
Supporting those with Sensory Needs
At NVR we are aware that some customers will have additional or sensory needs that are not obvious/visible. We also know that these customers still have a passion for heritage railways and want to visit us. We understand that by its very nature, as a heritage railway, our sites can be quite noisy e.g. steaming/whistling trains, whistling guards etc. and at special events, the platforms may also be much busier than on normal running days.
- We encourage visitors with sensory needs to wear whatever noise cancelling headphones/ear defenders that they require to our sites. If you are travelling independently we just ask that you have them set up to ensure that you can hear any important announcements or health and safety instructions.
- If whilst waiting on the platform at Wansford, the noise levels become overwhelming, please feel free to access the Barnwell Building. The doors can be closed to reduce the noise further.
- Alternatively, if you have a ticket to travel and your train is stood at the platform and it can be boarded - please do. If you are unsure, please ask a staff member or volunteer who will be happy to advise you.
- If you would usually wear a Sunflower lanyard, please wear it when visiting us. Our staff have been trained to recognise that these act as a discreet sign that an individual MAY require additional assistance. It also reminds our volunteers/staff to check discreetly if any additional assistance is required.
- A map of the train journey (and things to look for) are available and can be requested at the Booking Office.
Assistance Dogs
Although we welcome all dogs on our sites and on our trains, we especially welcome assistance dogs. We are keen to encourage customers who use trained or in-training guide dogs/hearing dogs, medical alert dogs and buddy dogs to visit our sites and travel our trains. Dog tickets can be pre-booked or purchased on the day but if you are bringing an assistance dog on a service where dogs are not usually allowed, to ensure that your assistance dog can also travel, please ensure that you have formal identification for your dog e.g. official harness.
Carers
Although we don't offer reduced ticket prices for individuals with disabilities, we do offer reduced fares for essential carers (see Bookings for prices) on our standard services.
- A full-paying disabled customer may purchase: one reduced price carer ticket for their essential carer.
- The essential carer may be asked to provide proof of entitlement when purchasing/presenting their Carer ticket.
- We currently accept:
- Letter/notice of entitlement of DLA/PIP
- Letter from GP
- Blue badge or Freedom Pass
- National Disabled Identification (DID) card/Access Card
- International Equivalents of above.
If you have any questions regarding proof of entitlement, please do not hesitate to contact us prior to your visit.
Unfortunately, discounted Carers tickets are not always available when special events are held at the railway. Please check individual events information.
Travelling with Young Children
Being the home to Thomas, we welcome families with young children of all ages. We also understand that travelling with young children brings challenges of its own, especially if you are a lone adult with multiple children. In addition to the information above, we hope that the following information will allow you to better prepare for your visit to us.
- All of our main line stations have ramp access suitable for buggies.
- Our general carriages can be accessed by families and parents travelling with children. Some carriages have separate compartments which seat 6-8 individuals.
- We request that pushchairs are folded where possible and placed under your table or between your seats. If this will cause difficulties, please speak to the Guard who may be able to provide alternative storage for you.
- If you are travelling alone with a larger buggy you may feel that access to our accessibility coach would be more appropriate for your journey (see Accessible Coach for more details). In this case, please speak to the station staff/volunteers who will be able to assist you.
- A changing station is available in the accessible toilet in the accessible coach.
- Additional changing stations are available in the ladies toilet at Wansford Station and the Accessible toilet next to the Cafe at Wansford.
NVR Staff and Volunteers
Throughout your visit, our helpful and friendly staff will endeavour to assist you to ensure that you have the best experience possible.
Please do not hesitate to speak to our staff if you require direction, assistance or support during your visit. If they do not have the answer, they will be able to direct you to someone that does.
If for any reason you have any issues during your visit, or you have suggestions around improving accessibility, please do contact us. We welcome constructive suggestions and are striving to make accessibility for all the best that it can be within our heritage sites.
The Future
We are aware that there are still some accessibility issues that we need to address and hope to continue to improve our provision further over the coming years. Our priorities will be: improving the disabled parking area and the access into the main station building at Wansford. We also hope to review how best to improve access beyond the steep ramp at the rear of the building and over the railway tracks to the Museum etc.
At PNV, the addition of the new station building will hopefully provide a quieter area for passengers to wait for trains as well as improving our toilet facilities at this end of the line.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.