The WHR is a historic narrow gauge railway. We welcome customers of all abilities.

We operate a fleet of mainly modern carriages and all of our normal service trains have space available for customers with mobility impairments including some wheelchair spaces. As space is inevitably limited, we strongly recommend that wheelchair users contact us in advance in order that we can make suitable arrangements. This will help us to make your visit a pleasurable one. A step and wheelchair ramp are carried on all normal trains and these are available to help you to access the trains – please ask a member of staff.

Wheelchair users please note: our ramps have a weight limit of 250kg. They will take an ordinary wheelchair, plus user, plus pusher or a small battery operated chair. However, they are not suitable for motorized scooters or buggies. We do have ordinary wheelchairs at Caernarfon and Pont Croesor that may be borrowed for the duration of your visit. It is also worth noting that although we can accommodate wheelchairs in the trains we do not have turning spaces in the train due to the narrowness of our carriages, and the space for wheelchairs in the carriages is constrained below what one would expect on a main line train for the same reason. There is a staff train toilet on all of our normal service trains which is available to customers on request. Owing to its small dimensions, we regret that this toilet is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Certain special services operate entirely with vintage carriages and we regret that, at this stage, they are not suitable for customers who need to remain in their wheelchairs and have no toilet facilities.

We welcome assistance dogs in all our carriages.

If you have any questions as to how we can help you further, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help you to plan your visit. Telephone us on 01766 516000, 01766 516024 or 01286 677018.

Facilities at our stations are as follows:

Caernarfon

This is our main terminus station situated close to the castle. We recommend that you start your journey from here.

There is a level rough gravel car park from which the booking office / shop is accessed via a gentle ramp. There is a drop off point by the car park entrance. There is a low level counter. The ladies’ and gentlemen’s toilets are situated behind the main building. There is also an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities situated inside the shop within the main building.

The platform is accessed by a gentle ramp.

Bontnewydd Halt

This halt is accessible from the adjacent Lôn Eifion cycle path. The path is tarmac and level in most places. There is no road access.

Dinas

There is a small tarmac car park but to access the station and trains, it is necessary to negotiate a kerb. Once negotiated, the rest of the area including access to both platforms is level. There are toilets on site including an accessible one.

Waunfawr

The station is at the south end of the village on the A4085 adjacent to the Snowdonia Parc Brewpub. The car park belongs to the pub but may be used by visitors travelling on the railway. It has a deep gravel surface, making it difficult for people with restricted mobility or to manoeuvre a wheelchair over. Access to the platform is normally by a footbridge but there is a rough, gently sloping path through the pub’s campsite. There are no facilities on the platform.

The pub itself is wheelchair friendly and when open, has accessible toilets. It may be possible to arrange help in advance for railway passengers wishing to use the pub for a meal. Telephone the pub on 01286 650409.

Plas y Nant Halt

This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no level access.

Snowdon Ranger Halt

This halt is only accessible via a narrow footpath and there is no level access.

Rhyd Ddu

The station is to the south of the village beside the A4085. The car park here belongs to the Snowdonia National Park Authority and there is only very limited parking available. The National Park Authority has an accessible toilet in the car park for RADAR key holders.

The platform is accessed via a tarmac ramp and level foot crossing. There is a waiting shelter, and also a small booking office which is open on busy days.

Meillionen (Forest campsite)

This halt is situated within the Beddgelert Forest Campsite, primarily for the use of campers. There is level access to the platform through a small gate.

This is a short platform and only certain carriages on the train will be accessible from it. It is therefore advisable to phone Caernarfon booking office on 01766 516024 before 0930 on the morning of travel so that the guard of the train can be made aware of your requirements. If joining at another station and travelling to Mellionen halt, you must advise the guard BEFORE boarding that you wish to alight at the camp site.

Beddgelert

This station is situated above the village with access through the public car park near the Royal Goat Hotel. This car park belongs to the Snowdonia National Park Authority and there is only very limited parking available. Between the car park and the station there is a long tarmac ‘zig-zag’ sloping path which is relatively steep but usable by wheelchairs. The slope is down hill from the platform to the car park. There is level access on/off the platform and the ticket/information office is situated beside the entrance to the platform. If this is not manned, tickets may be purchased from the guard of the train. There are temporary toilets including an accessible toilet with ramped access close to the gate on to the platform.

Once in the car park, the main village street is only a short distance away. Pavements are quite narrow but it is possible to use a wheelchair. There is a pleasant wheelchair friendly walk beside the river.

Nantmor

The halt is accessed from the minor road through the village. There is no parking facility at the halt and the road slopes steeply at this point. The nearest car park is owned by the National Trust approximately a quarter of a mile away. There are toilets in this car park. Passengers wishing to alight at Nantmor should do so by prior request to the guard. Although the platform itself is accessible, there are no facilities other than a small shelter at or near to this location so it is recommended for use by able-bodied walkers only.

Pont Croesor

This station is the temporary terminus of the line and is situated on the B4410 between Prenteg and Llanfrothen villages beside the Glaslyn Osprey Project. The railway has a clearly defined car park that has a rough compacted slate waste surface. There is a steep slope to the station and facilities but there is also a more gently sloping access via the farm crossing directly beside the station building. A tarmaced path across this vehicular access leads to a small gate. If arriving with an able bodied car driver, it is possible to drop off at this point and from this gate there is almost level tarmaced access to the station building toilets and platform. The station building is accessed via a short ramp. There are temporary toilets including an accessible toilet with ramped access.

The RSPB site is over the level crossing roadway but there is a cattle grid onto their site making access difficult for those with impaired mobility or wheelchair.

Mobile Phone Coverage

Generally available between Caernarfon and Waunfawr, patchy further south with no coverage at Rhyd Ddu. Between Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert, coverage is very poor although the Orange network is available in Beddgelert. There is no coverage at Nantmor but coverage on most networks at Pont Croesor.

Refreshments

Light refreshments are available via an at-your-seat refreshment trolley in all but the older non-corridor carriages.

Blind and partially sighted customers

Welcome Aboard Leaflets and on-train refreshment menus are available in Braille or large print for loan from the On Train Services team.

A printable version of this statement is available here.

Last updated July 2010.