Overview

Though the railway station is a terminus, it does have several levels because there is also a tram line running through it and a wheelchair accessible public loo In the basement. Immediately outside are further tram and bus stops, and from Centraal Station it is possible to get to many parts of the city by public transport.

Transport & Parking

Can't comment on the parking. A good range of buses serve stops adjacent to the station and all are wheelchair accessible. There are tram stops on the upper level inside the station building (accessible by lift). These are served by Trams numbered 2, 3, 4 & 6. The trams running on line 6 are not wheelchair accessible, whereas those running on lines 2,3 & 4 are. We used Tram 3 to visit an outlying part of the city and had a good experience. The first couple of stops are in the tram tunnel which runs through the city centre, but both stops (Spui and Grote Markt) are wheelchair accessible. There are more tram stops in the street that runs alongside the station (Rijnstraat), served by Trams numbered 9, 15 & 16. The trams that run on line 16 are NOT wheelchair accessible. There are bus stops adjacent to the station served by buses 20,22,24,27,28,29,31,61- all wheelchair accessible.

Access

Excellent with one tiny exception - the signage does a very good job of showing you where the wheelchair access to the train platforms is, where the lifts to different levels are, and where the loos are, but we saw no sign indicating the location of the wheelchair-accessible loo. We followed the signs directing you to the loos on the basement level, and found a wheelchair accessible loo there. There are lifts to all levels which are big enough for a wheelchair, an accompanist and luggage. Circulating spaces are good, and the shops and cafes on the concourse have level access.

Toilets

We only found one. It's in the basement level towards the north corner of the station. During daylight hours you are admitted by the attendant who looks after the other loos, which are adjacent. There's a small button to push if the attendant doesn't show up, but it isn't very clearly labelled. During daylight hours use of the loo is free. Outwith daylight hours you have to put 70 cents in the slot to get the door open. Once inside, the loo is spacious and well-equipped, with grab rails on both sides of the toilet, an approachable sink and alarm cord. This is NOT a changing places toilet. We found no other public wheelchair-accessible loo in the city centre, so this one proved very useful.

Staff

On our first visit the attendant rushed to open up for us and was very helpful. On our second visit, the Accompanist had to summon her by pressing the button, and it took her a while to respond - the first response being a request to turn off the noise that pressing the button had started. After that, a janitor had to unlock a service door and find a key. Had Wheelchair Girl or the Accompanist been in urgent need of there loo, the delay would not have been good.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

As well as being a public transport hub and having a wheelchair-accessible loo, the station is architecturally impressive. Dutch architects Benthem Crouwel have created a light, airy and easily navigable space, with a striking all-over glass roof.

Photos