Door to Door: a travel guide for disabled people

Going by rail: Underground and subway systems

The underground railway systems in London (The Tube) and Glasgow (The Subway) were mostly built in late Victorian times and as a result generally have very poor or no access for disabled people, especially wheelchair users.

However some parts of the London Underground, especially the newer lines, are now accessible, and there is a continuing scheme of works to upgrade other parts of the system, which will include some of the older stations.

London Underground has produced a detailed guide on access to the Underground, which allows passengers to understand the access available at every station across the network, particularly the routes between street and platforms. It is currently only available through the Direct Enquiries website - the nationwide disabled access register - where visitors to the site will be able to search for accessible routes through each Underground station, prioritising their search according to their individual needs. Routes available include both street-level to platform and interchanges (platform to platform). The access details include the number of steps, lifts, escalators, walking distances, ramps and platform to train gap width.

The site also allows passengers to search for comprehensive information about each station, including car parking, toilets, and services for visually impaired people, induction loops and other access facilities. Go to: www.directenquiries.com and click on 'London Underground'.

Transport for London (TfL) has produced the Step-Free Tube Guide (www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/14091.aspx) which provides information about all stations that can be accessed without using stairs or escalators, or where you can change trains without using stairs or escalators. It includes information about the step and the gap between the platform and the trains at these stations.

TfL also produce tube maps in a number of alternative formats including: Audio and Large Print (in both colour and black and white). Details on how to obtain these can be found on the TfL website: www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx.

If you decide to travel by Underground, you must be able to travel independently throughout the tube journey, or take sufficient helpers with you to complete your journey safely.

If you are visually impaired, station staff will help you to the platform if they are available. Guide dogs may not travel on escalators (unless carried) but there are usually alternative fixed stairs.

There are no toilet facilities on tube trains and very few at Tube Stations. TfL have produced a Tube Toilet map (www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/14091.aspx) to locate your nearest toilet whist travelling.

Further information about the London Underground is given on the Transport for London website at: www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1169.aspx or see the TfL journey planner at: www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx. You can also call TfL's London Travel Information on 0843 222 1234 (24hours), Textphone 0207 918 3015.

More information about the Glasgow Subway can be found on the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) website at: www.spt.co.uk/subway/using_the_subway.aspx.