Overview

Not to easy for disabled, as long walks into halls, crowded areas, narrow lifts, and generally Discomfortable but at least we can enjoy seeing the exhibits. It now depends on how you arrive for the NEC, car parks are available, but we still recommend that you consider coming by train. It’s less of a hazzle. We came by train and our review is about DEPARTING the NEC after seeing our event, and although we personally use first class travel when we can afford it, this station is just as easy to use for standard travel, but just seating in communal areas. Photo 1 coming up from the car park outside NEC station, you come to the concourse, where the monorail departs. You then walk along to see your show in the various NEC halls. Photo 2. Coming out of NEC after your walkway ride, there is a small W.H Smith,s and two cafe areas. Photo 3. By the train ticket machines is the entrance into the station platforms. The whole of this area is wide and large, is always spotlessly clean. Photo 4. Through the ticket barrier is the platform and general seating areas. There are lifts down to all platforms. Photo 5. The First class lounge is on the level, but there is no attendant, you have to Press a button by the entrance, and show your ticket to a camera, and the door opens for you. Photo 6. In the lounge there is plenty of room for the wheelchair. Photo 7. Again, there is a good selection of snacks and hot or cold drinks. Photo 8. It’s a very comfortable and clean lounge, and has two tv screens with up to date times so you can check if your train is on time. Photo 9. At the far end of the lounge is the disabled toilet. Photo 10. There’s plenty of room in there, very clean, has grab rails and pull cord. Photo 11. Exiting lounge onto lift area, your assistant will take you into lift Photo 12. Then you are taking down onto Platform. Photo 13. The ramp is then put in place. Photo 14. And you are Taken into train. Photo 15. There is Space for wheelchair, which you can stay in, or go to your coach and seat. Photo 16. In the Standard coach, there is no way to get a chair down the aisle as it is to narrow. Our final thoughts. Now, a problem. We had booked and paid for a first class ticket with Avanti trains, , but we are taken onto a standard coach, as photos show, but it’s only one station ride, so we let it pass, but we feel you should know that buying a train ticket and booking assistant aid is a nightmare, they never get it right, we have always had problems, so this mistake is nothing knew for us, but these train companies need to start getting it right, it’s not cheap buying tickets, and we all deserve more care being shown to us. It’s sad, because once you are beyond buying ticket and arranging assistance, we find everything is really wonderful and well handled by all other departments, we have nothing but praise for assistant help.

Transport & Parking

There is parking available quite near to station, but expensive, and there are a number of car parks for the NEC with park and ride facilities, this way being cheaper, and of course you will be dropped off at the hall you will be visiting. We chose to arrive by train however, a more comfortable way to arrive, but then, there is quite a long way for your carer to have to push your wheelchair.

Access

Disabled access from station is quite ok, a long ride along walkway, narrow lift to take you down to all the hall entrances, reasonably short push to get you into the hall you are viewing, but after that, we find it rather frustrating as often there is not enough space for you to pass the thousand of other users, and it means sometimes missing a few areas you may have wished to see. Mind you, it’s all on the flat, so that’s something.

Toilets

When you find one, it’s usually ok, enough room, busy, so sometimes not as you would like toilets to be, it just depends on time you visit. A lot of times, I have had to use ordinary public toilets and make do.

Staff

It’s hard to fault staff, for us, always helpful and willing, friendly and gets on with it. We have always been welcomed warmly to whatever hall we have needed, so have offered high marks.

Photos