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The WHR is a historic
narrow gauge railway. We welcome customers of all abilities.
We operate a fleet of mainly modern carriages and all of our normal
service trains have space available for customers with mobility
impairments including some wheelchair spaces. As space is inevitably
limited, we strongly recommend that wheelchair users contact us in
advance in order that we can make suitable arrangements. This will
help us to make your visit a pleasurable one. A step and wheelchair
ramp are carried on all normal trains and these are available to
help you to access the trains – please ask a member of staff.
However, it is worth noting that although we can accommodate
wheelchairs in the trains we do not have turning spaces in the train
due to the narrowness of our carriages, and the space for
wheelchairs in the carriages is constrained below what one would
expect on a main line train for the same reason. There is a staff
train toilet on all of our normal service trains which is available
to customers on request. This toilet is not available to wheelchair
users.
Certain special services operate entirely with vintage carriages and
we regret that, at this stage, they are not suitable for customers
who need to remain in their wheelchairs and have no toilet
facilities.
We welcome assistance dogs in all our carriages
If you have any questions as to how we can help you further, please
do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help you to
plan your visit. Telephone us on 01766 516000, 01766 516024 or 01286
677018.
Facilities at our stations are as follows:
Caernarfon
This is our main terminus station situated close to the castle. We
recommend that you start your journey from here.
There is a level rough gravel car park from which the booking office
/ shop is accessed via a gentle ramp. There is a drop off point by
the car park entrance. There is a low level counter. The ladies’ and
gentlemen’s toilets are situated behind the main building. There is
also an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities situated
inside the shop within the main building.
The platform is accessed by a gentle ramp.
Bontnewydd Halt
This halt is accessible from the adjacent Lôn Eifion cycle path. The
path is tarmac and level in most places. There is no road access.
Dinas
There is a small tarmac car park but to access the station and
trains, it is necessary to negotiate a kerb. Once negotiated, the
rest of the area including access to both platforms is level.
Waunfawr
The station is at the south end of the village on the A4085 adjacent
to the Snowdonia Parc Brewpub. The car park belongs to the pub but
may be used by visitors travelling on the railway. It has a deep
gravel surface, making it slightly difficult for people with
restricted mobility or to manoeuvre a wheelchair over. Access to the
platform is normally by a footbridge but there is a rough, gently
sloping path through the pub’s campsite. There are no facilities on
the platform.
The pub itself is wheelchair friendly and when open, has accessible
toilets.
Plas y Nant Halt
This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no
level access.
Snowdon Ranger Halt
This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no
level access.
Rhyd Ddu
The station is to the south of the village beside the A4085. The car
park here belongs to the Snowdonia National Park Authority and there
is only very limited parking available. The National Park Authority
has an accessible toilet in the car park for RADAR key holders.
The platform is accessed via a tarmac ramp and level foot crossing.
There is a waiting shelter, and also a small booking office which is
open on busy days.
Meillionen (Forest campsite)
This halt is situated within the Beddgelert Forest Campsite,
primarily for the use of campers. There is level access to the
platform through a small gate.
This is a short platform and only certain carriages on the train
will be accessible from it. It is therefore advisable to phone
Caernarfon booking office on 01286 677018 before 1000 on the morning
of travel so that the guard of the train is aware of your
requirements. If joining at another station and travelling to
Mellionen halt, you must advise the guard BEFORE boarding that you
wish to alight at the camp site.
Beddgelert
This station is the temporary terminus of the railway. It is
situated above the village with access through the public car park
near the Royal Goat Hotel. This car park belongs to the Snowdonia
National Park Authority and there is only very limited parking
available. Between the car park and the station there is a long
tarmac ‘zig-zag’ sloping path which is relatively steep but usable
by wheelchairs. The slope is down hill from the platform to the car
park. There is level access on/off the platform and the
ticket/information office is situated beside the entrance to the
platform. If this is not manned, tickets may be purchased from the
guard of the train. There are temporary toilets including an
accessible toilet with ramped access close to the gate on to the
platform.
Once in the car park, the main village street is only a short
distance away. Pavements are quite narrow but it is possible to use
a wheelchair. There is a pleasant wheelchair friendly walk beside
the river.
Hafod y Llyn
After 21st May 2009, trains will run through the Aberglaslyn Pass to
Hafod y Llyn. However, there is no platform or public road access so
it is not possible to alight or join a train here. A small platform
for walkers may come into operation later in the year but this will
only be to access local footpaths and we do not recommend its use
for anyone other than those suitably equipped for hiking.
Mobile Phone Coverage
Generally available between Caernarfon and Waunfawr, patchy further
south with no coverage at Rhyd Ddu. Between Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert,
coverage is very poor although the Orange network is available in
Beddgelert.
Refreshments
Light refreshments are available via an at-your-seat refreshment
trolley in all but the older non-corridor carriages.
Blind and partially sighted customers
Welcome Aboard Leaflets and on-train refreshment menus are available
in Braille or large print for loan from the On Train Services team.
A printable version of
this statement is available
here.
Last updated June 2009. |
