Overview

I took an early morning train from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Aberdeen Railway Station for a business trip. At the end of arguably one of the most breathtaking scenic rail routes in all of Scotland, I came to this Aberdeen Railways station. I think I speak for many when I say there’s little fun in having to navigate a colossal station, thankfully this station is sensibly sized.

Transport & Parking

There is onsite parking at the railway station, both in the multi-story and station car parks, though it’s limited. There are 10 in total accessible spaces, in which you can park for free when displaying a value blue badge. There are 2 22kw Type 2 EV charging sockets in the car park but there's only one bay, and the charger is wall-mounted, meaning it's potentially awkward to manage. It’s also in a space next to a raised kerb which may make opening your door difficult on the left side. The station is connected to the Union Square Shopping Centre, on the other side of which you’ll find Aberdeen Bus Station. There's also a car park at the shopping centre but there is a cost for use.

Access

I requested assistance via the Passenger Assist App in advance, and I was pleased to see a member of the Mobility Assistance team waiting on the platform. We let everyone off first before the ramp was put down, which I much prefer as people tend to scramble over the ramp as I’m trying to use it. I rolled down the ramp when it was in place and out onto the level concourse. The station has level access throughout, which, as a manual wheelchair user, is always welcome. Leaving the train, I saw a ticket booth, with a lowered section and plenty of seats for those who’ve come through the barriers and are waiting for their train. There’s an accessible ticket gate, which is double-wide and could easily accommodate the widest of mobility devices. There are plenty of places to sit within the station, with metal chairs all of which have armrests. There isn’t a cafe in the station, though the WH Smiths has a Costa counter where you can get a coffee to go and snacks for the train. This isn’t a major issue as the Station is connected to the Union Square Shopping Centre which has all of the usual coffee chains you’d expect. I took the lift up to the bridge, which has Braille buttons and an induction loop. On the bridge, you’ll find the First Class Lounge as well as the walkway to the multi-storey, where there's two accessible parking bay. The lift also has an induction loop. The ticket office at the station is in its own small building, which has automatic sliding doors and a dropped counter on the left-hand side. There is an induction loop at the ticket office. I spoke to a staff member at the ticket office, who confirmed that there are no Braille or large print documents, however, he did confirm that there is a Video Relay Service for customers who use BSL. The pavements are uneven outside of the station, and the Guild Street entrance has corrugated rug flooring as you enter, which is a little bumpy to go over.

Toilets

There are three accessible toilets at the station, though two are in the First Class Lounge. The main accessible toilet is just before the Guild Street exit. It’s situated to the left of the turnstiles for the standard toilets and requires a radar key - which the station staff can provide if you don’t have one, The door to the toilet opens out, which brings it close to the turnstiles and means you need to be cautious when opening the door. There’s enough room to turn a powerchair, though it is still a small toilet. It could accommodate an additional person where needed. The toilet set is on the right as you enter. There is space for a right-side transfer, though there is a slim sanitary bin in the transfer space. There are grab rails on either side of the toilet, with the flush to the right on the wall behind. There’s a low, small sink with a lever-operated mixer-style tap and grab rails on either side. The additional two, as mentioned are found in the First Class Lounge. If you take the lift up the bridge, and turn to your left you'll find the lounge. Both toilets are on the right as you enter, with the closest featuring a tall mirror and a little more space than the toilet downstairs There are grab rails on either side of the toilet, and the low sink - which features a mixer tap with a long handle. A left-side transfer to the toilet is possible. The other toilet is effectively mirrored with the same facilities; however, it does have a shower curtain a wall-mounted shower seat, rails and an adjustable showerhead. All taps for the shower have long handles. These two toilets do not require a radar key. In each instance, the emergency red cords hung to the floor.

Staff

I spoke to Louise at the station, who was very friendly. When I explained I was writing a review of accessibility at the station, she took some time to show me around. She even took me to the First Class lounge, on the bridge above the concourse to show me some of the features there. I happened to meet her again as I was leaving Aberdeen and it was like chatting to an old friend. Louise is amazing at her job and a total delight. Thanks for being so helpful!

Photos