Overview

First opened in 1850 Newcastle Railway Station, also known as Newcastle Central is a busy station in Newcastle town centre. With plenty of places to grab a bite or a beer while you wait, an accessible subway station and a Changing Places toilet it has much of the essentials, though the quality of the latter isn't great.

Transport & Parking

There are both long and short-stay car parks at this location, with 13 accessible parking spaces. The subway will take you to the station. With lifts to take you to the station concourse, the subway network is accessible but comes with a caveat, the platform heights and gaps between the carriages and platforms vary. This means that pre-planning is needed, with prior contact requested to ensure ramps are made available. There are drop-off points and parking spaces at the front of the station, where you'll also find a taxi rank and rain shelter. You'll find six bus stops at the front of the station.

Access

The station has automatic sliding doors at the entrance and offers step-free access to all areas. I found navigation simple, despite the station being very busy. The signage is clear, but although the RNIB was involved in the installation of a tactile map, Braille usage remains minimal. As I wasn’t travelling, I was only able to survey one side of the station. To access the other platforms, there is a ramped bridge, but you need to pass through the ticket gates, several of which are double-wide to accommodate mobility devices. Close to the Changing Places toilet, you’ll find the passenger assistance lounge. The door to the lounge wasn't operational, but you can access it by pressing the touchpad and entering through the LNER ticket office, which has operational induction loops and lowered counters. The passenger assistance lounge felt cluttered, with plenty of seats but no clear space to park my wheelchair. There was a desk for staff, but nobody was present. Free tea and coffee are available from the hot drinks dispenser, but you’re advised to ask the staff before use. The lounge is poorly signposted, which is a real shame, as there is a BSL departure board in the lounge. I wish this were displayed on the main departure boards in the concourse because this is an amazing addition that supports inclusion. Outside the lounge is an RNIB-sponsored tactile map, providing information on the layout of the station in Braille. There is no shortage of seating throughout the station, and all platform edges have tactile markings. At the other end of the station, but on the same side, you’ll find the Central Metro Station, directly across from Costa Coffee and the ATMs. I didn’t use the subway, but the lift to the lower levels can accommodate a power chair. The lift also has rails around the perimeter and features Braille-marked buttons, emergency buttons close to the ground, and an induction loop. The edges of the stairs and escalators to and from the lower levels are marked with yellow paint and tactile markings, and there are rails/handholds on each side. The emergency call buttons are also marked in Braille and have a hearing loop.

Toilets

The Changing Places toilet at this location is quite unimpressive. Whilst there is a Ceiling Track hoist and change bed, the bed amounts to little more than a thin wooden shelf with nothing to prevent falls, not dissimilar to a cheap kitchen worktop, and provides zero padding. It even has metal baskets underneath. There is enough room to manoeuvre most mobility devices if needed. The toilet has a soft back, with silver rails on either side of the toilet and space for a left-side transfer only. The small sink has a lever-style tap and grab rails on both sides. There's no colostomy shelf. The red cord hung to the floor and was free from obstruction, which is a positive. The door opens outward and is opened by putting your RADAR key into a hole in the wall. On the outside of the door, I noticed a laminated paper sign stating "Changing Room," complete with dots where the braille markings should have been. Not great. The toilet corridor is accessed through automatic doors, with a touchpad just outside. There is an accessible toilet in same corridor as the Changing Places toilet but it was in use on my visit.

Staff

Anything else you wish to tell us?

As mentioned, this location is well-equipped. There are two bars, Caffe Nero, Greggs, Boots, Costa, WH Smiths, Marks & Spencer's and a Sainsbury's local. I really hope the Changing Places toilet is updated at some point as it's an essential feature that is needed by so many people.

Photos