Accessibility

An Inclusive Journey Across New Zealand

Accessibility, safety, and comfort are fundamental to your great journey. We're devoted to offering a scenic train journey that is not just unforgettable, but also accessible to all—especially our passengers with disabilities.

To ensure your safety and comfort, our attentive team is at your service throughout the journey, providing assistance and resources to make your experience as smooth, enjoyable, and secure as possible.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Travelling with a wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter

Our Scenic Class carriages are wheelchair accessible to ensure that everyone can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Please note that our Scenic Plus dining experience is not wheelchair accessible at this time.

If you're planning to explore New Zealand on our Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific or TranzAlpine trains with a wheelchair, powerchair, or mobility scooter, you're in for a comfortable journey. Our Scenic Class carriages feature specially designed wheelchair spaces located in our roomy and convenient Scenic Café carriage, ensuring a welcoming and accessible experience.

Accessible wheelchair spaces have their own table with two seats for companions and one huge panoramic window to enjoy the spectacular views. A second wheelchair space is conveniently situated on the other side of the aisle. Our wheelchair spaces feature a headphone jack so that you can tune into our GPS audio commentary.

MOBILITY SCOOTER, WHEELCHAIR AND POWERCHAIR RESTRICTIONS:

Max. combined weight (passenger and chair) = 364kg
Maximum length = 1295mm (51in)
Maximum width = 762mm (30in).

Hearing Impairment

Travelling with an auditory disability

All our scenic train carriages are fitted with hearing loops. To activate your built-in transformer, select the ‘T’ switch on the hearing aid. The hearing loop will boost the PA sound levels within the carriages.

Please note, if you are seated in the café carriage, the hearing loop is only fitted around the counter area. A microphone located in this area will, however, boost the sound levels for passengers using the hearing loop.

Impaired Vision

Travelling with visual impairment

If you are visually impaired and need assistance, then our staff are trained and happy to help you get on board and enjoy the journey.

Certified assistance dogs are also welcome aboard, although we do ask that:

During the trip your dog remains seated next to you restrained;
That you can provide documentation that your dog is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or a full member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF);
You prepare your dog for the journey by exercising and limiting its fluid intake before boarding the train.

Making your booking

When booking online, you can select your accessibility requirements on the contact details page. If you have any additional needs, then you can use the comments section to add any notes you think will help us.

For questions or phone bookings, please call us: