Step-free access at UK train stations - category guide

In short: National Rail classifies stations into five step-free categories: A (full access to every platform), B1 (ramps), B2 (separate entrance or steep ramp), B3 (some platforms only), and C (no step-free route). Around a third of UK stations are Category A; roughly 10% are Category C. Tap the ⓘ on any station in Railly to see its category and which platforms it covers.

Step-free access at UK train stations — what the categories mean

National Rail classifies every station into one of five step-free access categories: A, B1, B2, B3, and C. The differences between them matter for wheelchair users, passengers with pushchairs, heavy luggage, or limited mobility.

Railly shows each station's step-free category, lift availability, accessible toilets, and staff help options on the station info card. For a broader overview, see our accessibility overview.

Category A: full step-free access to all platforms

860 stations — 33% of the network.

Category A gives step-free access to every platform via lifts, ramps, or level access from the street. You can reach any train without encountering stairs.

Almost all major city stations are Category A:

Station	Platforms	Lifts	Accessible toilets	Wheelchairs	Staff help
London Waterloo	24	✓	✓	✓	✓
London Victoria	19	✓	✓	✓	✓
Leeds	18	✓	✓	✓	✓
London Liverpool Street	17	✓	✓	✓	✓
Bristol Temple Meads	16	✓	✓	✓	✓
London Euston	16	✓	✓	✓	✓
Reading	13	✓	✓	✓	✓
Glasgow Central	15	✓	✓	✓	✓

These stations have lifts serving every platform, accessible toilets, wheelchairs available from station staff, and full-time staff help.

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Category B1: step-free access via ramps

598 stations — 23% of the network.

B1 stations have step-free access to all platforms but rely on ramps rather than lifts. The ramps may be longer or steeper than at Category A stations. Every platform is reachable without stairs — the route just takes longer.

B1 stations often have lifts too, but the category reflects that ramps are a significant part of the access route.

Category B2: step-free access with caveats

522 stations — 20% of the network.

B2 stations have step-free access to all platforms, but reaching the right platform may involve a separate entrance, a steep ramp, a subway, or a call for staff assistance.

Some examples from Railly's station data:

• Maidenhead: B2 — platform 1's step-free access is only available via a steep ramp from a separate street entrance
• Newcastle: B2 — lifts available via a subway to platforms 1–4 and 9–12, but the bridge between platforms is steep
• Upminster: B2 — lifts to platforms 1, 2/3, and 4/5, but platform 6 has no step-free access
• Barking: B2 — lift from platform 1 to concourse; access to other platforms means using the subway to reach that lift
• Lewes: B2 — steep ramp (over 400m or above 1:10 gradient) to platforms 2 and 3; lifts to all other platforms

B2 stations are accessible in principle, but check the route before travelling — especially if you have a tight connection. The station info card on Railly includes area-specific notes where available.

Category B3: some platforms only

300 stations — 11% of the network.

B3 means only some platforms have step-free access. If your train departs from the right platform, you're fine. If it doesn't, you won't reach it without stairs.

For B3 stations, the platform assignment matters. Check the departure board on Railly to see which platform your service uses, and cross-reference that against the station's step-free notes. If you want to know which side the doors open before you board, our door-side predictor covers 433 platforms.

Category C: no step-free access

272 stations — 10% of the network.

Category C means no step-free access to any platform at this station.

Some Category C stations:

Station	Platforms
Highbury & Islington	6
Bushey	5
Elephant & Castle	4
Hackney Downs	4
Battersea Park	4

Highbury & Islington is the standout — a 6-platform Overground and Victoria line interchange serving over 30 million passengers a year with no step-free platform access at all.

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Beyond the category: other accessibility features

The step-free category is the headline. Other facilities that affect an accessible journey:

Lifts — 566 stations (22%) have lifts. Most Category A and B stations have them, but individual platforms within a station may not.

Accessible toilets — 810 stations (31%) have accessible toilets. Where stations have standard toilets, accessible ones are included in around 90% of cases.

Staff help — 1,595 stations (61%) have staff available to assist. Help points (intercoms on platforms) are available at most stations even where staff aren't physically present.

Wheelchairs — 309 stations (12%) have wheelchairs available from station staff. These are concentrated at larger interchanges.

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How to check accessibility on Railly

From the Railly homepage, search for any station, then tap the ⓘ next to the station name. The accessibility section shows the step-free category, lift availability, accessible toilets, staff help options, and wheelchairs available. Area-specific step-free notes are included below the category where available.

You can also go directly to a station page — for example, /departures/MAI for Maidenhead.

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A note on coverage

Railly's accessibility data covers all 2,600+ UK stations and is refreshed daily from National Rail. Step-free categories come from each station's accessibility assessment. If you spot an error, use the feedback button on any station page to report it.

For which stations carry the most passenger traffic, see our UK's busiest stations insight. For a structured list of every station's accessibility category, see the station accessibility overview.

This is a guide, not a guarantee — always check ahead for engineering works or lift outages that may temporarily affect access.

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— Data sourced from National Rail station records via Railly. Categories and facilities change as stations are upgraded, so always check the current status before you travel.