Overview

I attended Seagate Bus Station specifically for this review. The station is central, well-equipped and serves its purpose, although it does seem a bit dated. The buses I saw on my visit all had ramp access.

Transport & Parking

I came to the station on foot. Located in a built-up area, close to the city centre I didn't spot any places to park. The nearest bus stop (other than those inside the station) is located on Seagate where the 5, 5A, 17, 77 and 77B services operate. There are no taxi ranks in the immediate vicinity and no drop-off points.

Access

Outside of the station, the pavements have a minor incline but are otherwise smooth. Each entrance is close to a set of traffic lights, both of which have tactile pavements. The Seagate entrance has two small doors, one of which was pinned open on my visit, this was not wide enough for a wheelchair or walker. The Trades Lane entrance is the designated accessible entrance, which has two wide doors activated by a touchpad on either side of the doors, though they were both pinned open when I attended. In both instances, the doors open into the station. There is a small shop between the Seagate and Trades Lane entrances, selling newspapers, chocolates, bottled drinks and other items. The door to the shop is pinned open and wide enough for a wheelchair or powerchair. There is room to move but it is tight inside. The ticket office/travel shop is located between stands 4 and 5 and has low counters, which is helpful if you're a wheelchair user. The waiting area is spacious and level, making it easy to traverse, however, the station can get very busy. I visited at 10:30 am and I had a bit of a time trying to get through the people gathered there. An induction loop operates at the bus station and braille and large print documentation can be requested by asking the station staff. Water bowls are also provided for assistance dogs. A Coffee Station café operates in the station and is accessible via a ramp with a handrail, or steps. This cafe can also be accessed from Seagate, though there is a sign on at the Seagate entrance that explains there is no access to the bus station - it is physically possible, but this is likely to limit traffic, or the café being used as a shortcut. There are metal, single-seat benches with armrests throughout the station for those who need a seat as they wait. There are 9 stances at this station, accessed via automatic sliding doors from the waiting area, and all of the buses I saw on my visit had ramp access, but please check ahead of time that the service you're using provides this. I noted that Stagecoach, Citylink and Megabus operate services at Seagate. The departure board is on the wall as you enter, and there's a map and information board at the Seagate entrance. For those visiting the city, there is an Enterprise Rent-A-Car close to the station. Enterprise provides accessible vehicles, but these should be booked in advance.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is found outside of the building, on Seagate. A radar key is required to access the toilet and can be provided by the station staff if needed. I missed this toilet on my visit, as I expected them to be inside the building, where the standard toilets are located. The standard toilets are accessed through a turnstile, which isn't ideal for those with walking aids, who could otherwise use these toilets. The lower score is for the lack of visibility and signposting for the accessible toilets. This is an essential service, that shouldn't be so difficult to find. I can’t document how clean or suitable the toilets are, as I couldn’t find them.

Staff

The staff were attentive, the three staff members I saw in the waiting area were speaking with other passengers, though one did ask if I needed assistance.

Photos