Travel by Bus, Train, Taxi or Coach
Advice for Elderly and Disabled Travellers
By Bus
Buses serving the Borough of Havant are operated by several
companies. Many journeys in the more rural areas, or in the
towns during the evening or at weekends may run to
more limited timetables and are run under contract to Hampshire
County Council.
Please remember that bus drivers are not allowed to leave
their seats to help passengers. However, you can ask the driver not
to pull away until you are seated, if this will help you.
Low-floor easy access buses operate on various services, and a
growing number of bus stops are being fitted with easy access
raised kerbs.
By Train
If you are a wheelchair user or need assistance, you should
plan and book your rail journey at least 24 hours in advance.
Disabled persons railcard holders: telephone
08456 050525, textphone 08456 010132.
National Rail enquiries: telephone 08457
484950, textphone 08456 050600.
Assistance can be provided at most stations, and staff can
arrange for you to sit near the door so that you will not have far
to walk to the toilet or when you leave the train.
If you are aged 60 or over, you are eligible for a
Senior Railcard, which entitles you to a
third off the price of most first class and standard rail fares.
Application forms are available from your local rail station, or
online at
www.senior-railcard.co.uk/.
A
Disabled Person's Railcard entitles you to
a third off the price of most leisure (off-peak) fares and, if you
are accompanied by another adult, they can also travel at the same
discounted fare. Application forms are available at your local
station, or online at
www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/.
By Taxi
Taxis and private hire cars can be booked in advance to provide
a door-to-door service, and many drivers will help passengers get
in and out of the vehicle. If you can transfer out of your
wheelchair, and your wheelchair can be folded, most companies will
carry it in the boot free of charge.
By Coach
National Express operate long-distance coach journeys throughout
the country. Coaches serving the Borough connect with other
services at London's Victoria Coach
Station, which is managed by Transport for London. Most
National Express coaches are wheelchair accessible, and all will be
by the end of 2012. If you use a manual wheelchair and are able to
transfer to a seat, your wheelchair will be carried free of charge.
Powered wheelchairs cannot presently be carried, but check with the
Helpline (below) since it may be possible to accommodate smaller
mobility scooters in certain cirumstances. Guide dogs and hearing
dogs are carried free of charge on all coach services.
If you are over 60 you can buy a
Senior Coachcard, or if disabled you can buy a
Disabled Coachcard. Both cost £10 per year and
give you 1/3 off all fares in that year.
If you need assistance with your journey, you should book at
least seven days in advance. You can do this online at www.nationalexpress.com/coach.
National Express Disabled Persons' Travel
Helpline: telephone 08717 818179, textphone 0121 423
8479.