Paddington Accessible Station Guide
Paddington Accessible Station Guide
Paddington
Station
Guide
Information for older and
disabled passengers.
Including
accessible
facilities and
passenger
assistance
services.
Contents
Introduction 04
Station overview 05
Who does what at our station 05
Station operating hours 05
Train operators at our station 06
London Underground stations 06
at our station
Station access 07
Step-free access 07
Tactile paving 09
Arriving by car 10
Parking 10
Taxis 11
Buying a ticket 12
Ticket office opening hours 12
Ticket vending machine 13
operating times
Passenger Assistance 14
Passenger Assistance at our station 14
Accessing Passenger Assist services 16
Booking in advance 17
Turn up and go 18
Where to go when you arrive 19
at the station
Replacement transport 20
Interchanging 21
Using the station at busier times 24
2 | London Paddington
If things don’t go as planned 26
Booked assistance failures 26
Planned or unplanned disruption 26
Station facilities 28
Seating 28
Toilets 30
Showers 30
Left luggage 31
Customer information screens 32
Information points 33
Hearing loops 34
Catering and retail 35
Getting in touch 36
If things go wrong 36
On the day of travel 37
How to escalate a complaint 38
Further information 42
About this guide 42
Our ATP 42
Working with train operators 42
Our work with disabled people 43
on improving accessibility
Station Guide | 3
Introduction
Welcome to London Paddington
station.
This leaflet sets out:
• The help that is available at the station
for older and disabled passengers
and how to get it.
• The facilities available in and around
the station.
We work in collaboration with all relevant
parties, including our train operators, to meet
the standards outlined in this guide and
commit to continuously improve our services
and facilities for older and disabled passengers.
4 | London Paddington
Station overview
Who does what at our station
Network Rail manages the station, provides
assistance to passengers and maintains
facilities including toilets and accessible
features such as Changing Place, lifts and
escalators.
Our train operators sell tickets to passengers
and provide the train services.
Day Time
Monday – Thursday 04:30 – 01:34
Station Guide | 5
Train operators at our station are:
• Great Western Railway (GWR) – trains
to the West and South West of England.
• Heathrow Express (HEX) – trains
running direct to Heathrow airport
terminals.
• Elizabeth Line – trains to Heathrow,
Reading, Abbey Wood and Shenfield.
London Underground
stations at Paddington
Paddington Underground station (Bakerloo,
Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)
is operated by Transport for London (TfL) and
further information on their services can be
found using their website www.tfl.gov.uk or
on the TfL Go app.
For information on how to interchange
between our station and the Underground
and the help we can provide, please see
page 25 of this leaflet, ‘Interchanging’.
6 | London Paddington
Station access
Step-free access
Step-free access to the main station is via –
• Praed Street entrance via London Street
• Hammersmith and City line entrance
• Lift access at the Grand Union Canal
entrance
• Clock Arch via Eastbourne Terrace
• Horse Arch via Eastbourne Terrace
• Crossrail Arch entrance at the side of
Platform 1.
Station Guide | 7
London Underground
Step-free access from the mainline station to
the Underground ticket hall is available using
lifts or escalators.
There is no step-free access from the
London Underground ticket hall to London
Underground Bakerloo line or the anti-clockwise
Circle and District lines. However there is step-
free access to/from clockwise Circle and District
line and also to the Hammersmith and City line.
First-class lounge
Step-free access via a lift which is located on
Platform 1.
8 | London Paddington
The Lawn lift which can be located on the right
side upon entering the station via the Horse
Arch entrance can give access to the London
Underground, Hilton hotel on the mezzanine
level and to various retail units on the first floor.
Step-free classification
Under the industry step-free classification
system, Paddington station is in Category
B1, meaning it has step-free access to all
platforms but this may include long or steep
ramps. Access between platforms may be via
the street.
Tactile paving/panels
Tactile paving/panels are used to help
passengers with visual impairments to detect
the platform edges at our stations. These are
comprised of bumps that are detectable with
a walking cane, by guide dogs and/or felt
underfoot.
All of our platforms are fully fitted with tactile
paving/panels.
Station Guide | 9
Arriving by car
Our pick-up and drop-off points are located:
• In the APCOA car park the entrance is
on Bishops Bridge between Westbourne
Bridge and Eastbourne terrace. The sat
nav postcode is W2 6AA.
• On the taxi rank (east side), the sat nav
postcode is W2 1HA. Pre-booked taxis
are also located on the taxi rank.
Note: Due to limited space and to avoid
traffic congestion you will be unable to wait
at our drop-off and pick-up points and we
thank you for your support.
Parking
The car park is located on Bishop’s Bridge
Rd (entrance between Westbourne Bridge
and Eastbourne Terrace), sat nav W2 6AA.
There are 7 designated parking spaces,
and the normal tariff applies (see link
below for prices).
You can enter the car park through platform
1 and the route is step-free. Where needed
we can drop you off at the car park via a
mobility buggy.
10 | London Paddington
There are total of 100 parking spaces of which
93 are for public parking.
There is a pay & display which takes credit card.
For pricing and general car park information,
please visit the APCOA parking web page.
or
Call APCOA on 0345 222 4224
Taxi
The taxi rank is located beside the pick-up and
drop-off point and is fully accessible.
The taxi rank is operated by TfL and is served
by black cabs, all of which are wheelchair
accessible. Some of the newer ones are also
fitted with induction loops and intercoms for
hearing aid users.
Private taxi operators also provide services
from this area and their accessibility may vary.
We will assist all passengers who need it
between the taxi rank and the station,
regardless of whether assistance has been
booked or not.
Our staff are available when you arrive or
depart between the hours of:
07:00 – 23:00 Monday to Sunday.
Outside these times, please call the station
shift manager on 07799 337 435
The taxi rank is signposted from inside
the station.
Station Guide | 11
Buying a ticket
GWR have a ticket office which is located on
the main concourse.
Day Time
Monday – Saturday 06:10 – 22:15
12 | London Paddington
Ticket vending machine
operating times
Machines are available during station
operating hours.
Our passenger assistance staff can also help
you to buy tickets.
Station Guide | 13
Passenger Assistance
Passenger Assistance at our station
We offer assistance to older and disabled
passengers who need help accessing our
facilities and train services.
Our Passenger Assistance team have access to
wheelchairs and Passenger Assistance vehicles
to help us assist you in and around the station.
Note: Wheelchairs are not available for passenger
use without the help of one of our team.
14 | London Paddington
Distances from the concourse to trains can
be lengthy at London Paddington so to assist
you in a timely and safe manner we request
that you arrive in good time; we recommend
arriving 30 minutes prior to departure of your
required train service.
When arriving at the station by train where it
is the terminating stop for the train, our aim is
to meet you on time. Sometimes it may take
us a little longer because we often assist more
than one passenger per train, but we have a
service commitment to not exceed 5 minutes
from arrival and 10 minutes during disruption.
If you arrive at the station much earlier
than your planned departure time, you may
have to wait for assistance staff to become
available.
London Paddington is one of the busiest
stations in the country for Passenger
Assistance bookings. Because our station
is so busy, we do recommend that you book
in advance wherever possible.
Pre-booked assistance can be booked up to
2 hours in advance of travel.
Station Guide | 15
Accessing Passenger Assist services
Assistance for any journey, including journeys
with multiple connections using multiple train
companies, can be booked in advance, or can
be requested on the day from a member
of staff.
Booking in advance
There are several ways you can book
assistance in advance:
1. Contact the relevant train operator
for your journey via their website.
2. Transreport Passenger
Assistance App
You will be able to download
the app by searching for
“Passenger Assistance” on
your app store (iOS/Android).
Once found, click ‘Install’ and
wait for the app to appear.
Send your request to book
assistance on the app and
this will be sent directly to
the train operator, who will
arrange assistance for you.
We will tell you when your
booking is confirmed. Then,
all you have to do is book
your ticket and you’re on
your way.
16 | London Paddington
3. Visit the National Rail Enquiries website
4. Follow the instructions provided via any
other train booking service provider.
On the day you can request assistance from
any of our team or go directly to our assisted
travel lounge where one our team will help
arrange assistance with you.
Booking in advance
Assistance at London Paddington can be
booked by calling the train operator that you
are going to be traveling with.
You can also call the Passenger Assist team
directly on 800 024 8997 (Next Generation
text 18001 088 024 8997).
Station Guide | 17
Tell us about your journey
The booking agent will need to know the
following information, so it may be useful
to have this to hand when you call:
• The date and time of the service you
are planning to travel on.
• Your seat reservation details (if you
have one).
• If you are travelling with other
people, especially if they also require
assistance, at London Paddington our
assistance vehicles can only seat three
people each.
• If you have any requests such as a
preference to being assisted on foot
rather than in a buggy, please make
this clear to the booking agent.
18 | London Paddington
Where to go when you arrive at
the station
Our passenger assistance office is located on
platform 1.
You can also request support from any of our
Network Rail customer service team located
throughout the station.
Day Time
Monday – Sunday 07:00 – 23:00
Station Guide | 19
There is a comfortable heated seating/waiting
area exclusively for you.
Outside these times, passenger assistance
services are still available, by speaking to a
member of staff or by contacting the station
shift manager on 07799 337 435. This contact
number is also shown on each help point
phone.
Replacement transport
In some circumstances, alternative accessible
transport might be offered for planned works or
during planned works or times of disruption.
We will work with your train operator to help
you make your journey, this may include the
train operator arranging alternative accessible
transport where appropriate.
20 | London Paddington
Interchanging
This section explains how you can change from
one mode of transport to another and how to
navigate within the station.
We can only provide assistance on the
station premises to/from Paddington London
Underground and the taxi rank. Regrettably we
are unable to assist passengers anywhere else
outside the station.
Network Rail have appointed designated
handover areas with London Underground staff,
meaning we can assist passengers to London
Underground gatelines and lifts only. London
Underground staff will assist you from these
points on your on-going journey.
Several bus stops are located on Praed Street,
from where there is step-free access to the main
station concourse and all platforms. We regret
that we are unable to asssit passengers to/from
buses on Praed Street.
The taxi rank is located beside the pick-up and
drop-off point and is accessible. Our team is
available to assist passengers to and from the
taxi rank.
Station Guide | 21
Underground
Platform 1 and 12 lifts link to the London
Underground (Hammersmith and City and
Circle lines) this is step-free, and these lifts also
link you to the taxi rank. Using Platform 1 lift
you will need to cross over the bridge.
There is a lift located next to the Fat Face shop
in the ‘Lawn’ retail complex, which is found on
the main concourse. This links to the London
Underground ticket hall (Bakerloo and District
line). There is no step-free access to the London
Underground service from their ticket hall.
Taxis
An accessible taxi rank is located on the first
floor, above platform 12. Staff are available to
assist passengers who need assistance to and
from the taxi rank.
To access the taxi rank please use the platform
12 lifts and use the signage around the station,
staff are also here to help.
There are two drop-off/pick-up points, in the
APCOA car park (Managed by APCOA, 0345
222 4224) The entrance is on Bishops Bridge
between Westbourne Bridge and Eastbourne
terrace. the sat nav postcode is W2 6AA.
On the taxi rank (east side) the sat nav post
code is W2 1HA. Pre-booked taxis are also
located on the taxi rank.
22 | London Paddington
Bus
Several buses stop on Praed Street, which links
to Arrivals Road in and out the station.
Information on bus and London Underground
services is available on the Transport for
London website at tfl.gov.uk/
If you need information on how to change
to another mode of transport at the station,
please speak to a member of the team in
the station.
Station Guide | 23
Using the station at busier times
Paddington is one of the busiest stations in
the UK and there are times when the station
can become congested. Our station teams
manage passenger flow during busier times.
Off-peak times are when the station is least
busy – these are normally during the week
between 09:30 – 16:00 and after 19:00.
If you require assistance to travel through
the station during busier times our team are
available to assist. Please contact a member
of the team available throughout the
concourse or go directly to the passenger
assistance station reception, where our
team will provide assistance to your train.
24 | London Paddington
Assistance to interchange
Paddington work as one team to make your
journey as smooth as possible. Please note
that we can only provide assistance on the
station premises between National Rail and
taxi rank areas.
When arriving at the station by train,
our aim is to meet you on time. However,
it may take us a little longer because we
often assist more than one passenger per
train, but we have a service commitment
to not exceed 5 minutes from arrival, or
10 minutes during times of disruption.
If you arrive at the station much earlier
than your planned departure time, you
may have to wait for assistance staff to
become available.
Station Guide | 25
If things do not go
as planned
Booked assistance failures
Where your booked assistance has not been
provided or does not go as confirmed by the
operator, passengers can submit a claim
for redress to the operator of the train they
were travelling on, or due to travel on, when
the failure took place. We will provide you
information as required to help you.
26 | London Paddington
We will provide access and information on how
to claim compensation when you are delayed.
Prior to any long-term refurbishments
at our stations we will consult user groups
and stakeholders.
We will notify you of any short or long-term
refurbishments on our website and National
Rail Enquiries to help you plan your journey in
advance and when you are in our stations we
will provide information prior to and during
these refurbishment activities.
We will also keep passengers up to date
via our social media platforms:
@NetworkRailEUS on Twitter.
Station Guide | 27
Station facilities
Seating
Seating is located throughout the station
including priority seating, please refer to
table below for details:
Customer
Location info Accessible Heated
screens
Main concourse
On the concourse by
the main customer
information points Yes Yes No
there are large
seating areas
available for
passengers.
Station reception
Our station reception
located by platform
1 and has priority Yes Yes Yes
seats available.
This area is fully
staffed to provide
additional help.
Lawn area
The lawn area is
located at the back
of the concourse
by the main LU Yes Yes No
entrance. This area
consists of shops and
has large seating
area in the middle.
28 | London Paddington
Customer
Location info Accessible Heated
screens
Platform 1
Seating is available
on platform 1 Yes Yes No
conveniently located
at key points.
Taxi deck
Seating is available
on taxi deck Yes Yes No
conveniently located
at key points.
Waiting room
Our waiting room is
located by platform Yes Yes Yes
12 and has priority
seats available.
Station Guide | 29
Toilets
Toilets including accessible toilets, a baby
changing room, a Changing Places facility and
a mother care room are available on platform
12, and are free to use.
A radar key is required for the accessible toilet.
If you don’t have a Radar key of your own,
please speak to a member of station staff
or one of our cleaning team who will provide
access for you.
These facilities are all available and open
24 hours a day.
Further toilets including accessible toilets
and a baby changing room are also available
on platform 1 in the Network Rail station
reception. These are open only during station
reception operating hours from 07:00 – 23:00.
30 | London Paddington
Left luggage
You can leave luggage in our left luggage
facility which is located on platform 12 near
the escalator to the taxi rank.
If you require assistance to access this facility,
please contact one of our station team.
Opening hours are:
Day Time
Monday – Sunday 07:00 – 23:00
Station Guide | 31
Customer information screens
We have various customer information
screens across the station that provide
train information, including train times
and platform numbers.
We also provide audio announcements
for all our train services and other customer
related information.
Accurate train departure and arrival
information is given on fixed and mobile
information screens:
• On the concourse above the GWR
help desks
• On platforms, the taxi rank, the overbridge
and the lawn
Our station staff can also provide
information.
Mobile CIS totems are also available on
the concourse area, by the main entrances
and taxi deck. These can provide service
and facilities information plus you can
leave feedback here.
32 | London Paddington
Information points
There are three GWR customer information
points in the station. GWR staff will be able
to help you with information about the
station and services.
Network Rail station reception, by platform 1
is also available for information about
passenger assistance.
Staff at these information points have a
variety of leaflets and timetables available,
they are also equipped with iPads so that
they can quickly access timetables and train
information for you.
Staff are also available on the concourse
during station operating hours.
All GWR customer information points are open
Day Time
Monday – Sunday 07:00 – 21:00
Day Time
Monday – Sunday 07:00 – 23:00
Station Guide | 33
An example of one is shown below.
Hearing loops
These are available at all three GWR customer
information points and within GWR ticket office
area, at the counter.
34 | London Paddington
Help Points
We have 12 help points located on every
platform and taxi deck. These are connected
to our station reception phone line and our
station staff are ready to help.
Station Guide | 35
Getting in touch
If things go wrong
We value and welcome your feedback,
so please share your experience with us.
You can do so in the following ways:
At our managed stations: Employees are
trained to help you if you have any questions.
Speak to any Network Rail member of staff
at one of our managed stations and they
will attempt to resolve your query.
National Helpline: 03457 11 41 41, open
24 hours a day, seven days a week including
bank holidays. If the query can’t be resolved
immediately, we will log your feedback and
look into the matter.
Online: www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus
where you can submit a station complaint
form.
You can access frequently asked questions or
choose to provide feedback to Network Rail
from this link, which is also where you will
find our online contact form.
Live chat: Our live chat is available from
Day Time
Monday – Friday 07:00 – 21:00
Saturday – Sunday 08:00 – 20:00
www.networkrail.co.uk/contactus.
36 | London Paddington
Twitter: @NetworkRail, we respond to as
many queries as we can on Twitter or will
help you to log an issue for us to look in to.
Post: We have regional community relations
teams. If action is required, our central team
will pass your query or feedback to the team
that works in your area. You can write to us at:
Network Rail
1 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN
Station Guide | 37
How to escalate a complaint
If you are unhappy with how Network Rail or
a train operator has dealt with your complaint
you can contact the Rail Ombudsman, which is
an independent organisation set up to resolve
complaints about the rail industry.
Telephone: 0330 094 0362
Textphone: 0330 094 0363
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @RailOmbudsman
Website: www.railombudsman.org
Post: FREEPOST – RAIL OMBUDSMAN
38 | London Paddington
How to contact train operators
If you have any questions about your journey
prior to accessing the station, please contact
the relevant train operators below:
Great Western Railway – Western Route
between Paddington Station and Penzance
Passenger Assist: 0800 022 3720
Textphone: 07890 608043
between 0700 – 2300
Email:
www.gwr.com/help-and-support/contact/
email-us
Twitter: @GWRHelp
Website:
www.gwr.com/help-and-support/contact
Station Guide | 39
How to contact train operators
continued
Heathrow Express – Paddington Station to
Heathrow Terminals
Passenger Assist: 08001971329
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 02087572700
Twitter: @HeathrowAirport
Address: Freepost LON16331 Heathrow Express
London W2 6BR
or as below:
The Compass Centre, Nelson Road
Hounslow Middlesex TW6 2GW
Website: www.heathrowexpress.com
40 | London Paddington
How to contact train operators
continued
Transport for London – For Underground/
Overground, Elizabeth line, Tickets/Oyster
enquires
London Overground/Underground operate a
‘turn up and go’ service. Please speak to station
staff for assistance. If you prefer, you can
also book assistance before you travel. Most
stations operated by TfL Rail offer Turn-up-and-
go. To check if a TfL Rail station offers ‘Turn-up-
and-go’ enter the station name and check the
Accessibility & Mobility Access section.
Passenger Assist: TFL Rail 0343 222 1234
Enquiries: tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/
accessibility
Telephone: 0343 222 1234
Textphone: 0800 112 3456
Twitter: @Tfl
Address: TfL Customer Service, 4th Floor,
14 Pier Walk, London SE10 0ES
Website: tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/
door-to-door-transport-services
Station Guide | 41
Further information
About this guide
You will find a copy of these guide on
our website. The guide is also available in
alternative formats including large print,
audio version and text only versions.
42 | London Paddington
Our work with disabled people
on improving accessibility
London Paddington Accessibility Forum has
been set up to consult future changes to the
station with our disabled passengers, helping
to ensure we build a station fit for all.
Station Guide | 43