Getting Out and About with Confidence: Accessible Travel Tips for Disabled Passengers

Public transport is for everyone, but for those with disabilities, buses and trains can sometimes feel challenging. Don’t worry, though—there are plenty of ways to make travel easier and more accessible. Here’s a guide to help you feel more confident when using local buses and trains.

BUSES

Henfield is well-connected with three bus routes that are accessible to most passengers:

Stagecoach Bus No. 17 – Running every day from Brighton to Horsham, generally every hour or half-hour.

Compass Bus No. 100 – A rural route running between Burgess Hill and Horsham, stopping at 15 villages including Henfield, Small Dole, and Woodmancote, as well as Horsham hospital.

Compass Bus No. 106 – A single outward and return service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, running between Henfield and Worthing, via Small Dole, Steyning, and Lancing, and also Worthing Hospital.

All these buses are equipped with easy-access low floors for smooth entry and exit, making them suitable for most wheelchairs and Class 2 mobility scooters. Mobility scooter users can also apply for a 5-year permit that allows free travel on Compass, Stagecoach, and other buses in the nationwide scheme. Each bus has a designated space for a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and they get priority over buggies. Passengers must remain in their vehicle during the journey.

TRAINS

The nearest train stations to Henfield are Hassocks and Burgess Hill, both on the London to Brighton line, and Horsham on the Chichester to London line. While there’s no bus service to Hassocks, both Burgess Hill and Horsham can be reached by bus. Horsham station is very handy as the No. 17 bus stops directly opposite it.

For more details on disabled train travel, visit: Passenger Assistance UK.

Through the Passenger Assist service staff can meet you at a station and assist you onto your train, including using a ramp if necessary. They can also provide help with a reasonable amount of bags and pets. Assistance must be booked in advance on the Passenger Assistance App, by phone on 0800 022 3720, by text to 60083, or by contacting the rail operator directly.

If you’re traveling by wheelchair, remember to mention this when booking to ensure a wheelchair space is reserved for you, and for any carers if needed. People using wheelchairs, as well as blind or visually impaired passengers, are entitled to discounted train fares, so be sure to mention this when booking.

Most trains require wheelchairs and mobility scooters to be no larger than 700mm x 1200mm. While some train operators may require a permit for electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, this is not the case in the South East of England. You can find more information on mobility scooter restrictions here at National Rail Mobility Scooters.

We hope more people with disabilities will feel empowered to travel on our local buses and trains as awareness of support grows. We’d love to hear your experiences—whether positive or negative—so please continue to share them with us at Access Henfield accesshenfield@gmail.com.