Northern is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible rail network, giving everyone an equal opportunity to travel and enjoy all that the north of England has to offer.
Apply for a scooter permit
Our Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme has been helping customers travel with confidence for the past six years. Today, more than 3,000 customers across our network benefit from the scheme.
In 2026, we're introducing Permit Plus, an extension to the scheme that includes travel on our Class 158 trains. Due to their layout and limited space, these trains can be more difficult to board with a mobility scooter. Permit Plus helps make sure customers using suitable mobility scooters can travel safely on these services.
You can find more information about the scheme and the eligibility requirements below.
Can I take my mobility scooter on Northern trains?
Mobility Scooter Permits
We are pleased to offer mobility scooter users access to even more of our network through two permit options:
Standard Permit
- Valid on routes and stations included in our standard mobility scooter scheme.
- Available to customers whose scooters meet the standard permit criteria.
Permit Plus
- Available to customers whose scooters meet additional size and manoeuvrability requirements.
- Allows travel on selected routes operated by Class 158 trains, which can be more challenging to board due to the layout and space available around the doorway and vestibule areas.
- Provides access to additional stations and routes across the network.
To help ensure safe travel for all customers, we welcome applications from users of both 3-wheel and 4-wheel mobility scooters that meet the following Standard Permit criteria:
- Maximum length: 120cm
- Maximum width: 70cm (standard wheelchair footprint
- Maximum turning circle: 150cm
- Maximum combined weight of scooter and user: 300kg (47 stone)
- Fitted with anti-tip wheels
- Minimum climbing angle of 6°
- Be able to travel at a maximum of 4mph
To qualify for Permit Plus, scooters must meet all of the above with the exception of width and turning circle, these are:
- Maximum width: 60cm
- Maximum turning circle: 120cmPlease be aware that not all stations are suitable for mobility scooter access. Before you travel, check that both your departure and destination stations are covered by the scheme.
To apply for a Rail Ready Mobility Scooter Permit, click the button below or complete an application form and return it to:
Assisted Travel Team - Scooter Permit Application
To apply for a scooter Rail Ready Mobility Scooter permit, click the button below, or complete the application and post to:
Assisted Travel Team - Scooter Permit Application
Customer Experience Centre
Freepost NORTHERN
Apply now
What happens if the scooter meets the requirements
Once we receive your application, our Contact Centre team will assess your mobility scooter against the eligibility criteria for both the Standard Permit and Permit Plus schemes.
If your scooter meets the required criteria, we will automatically issue the appropriate permit and send it to you by post.
If your application is unsuccessful, we will explain why your scooter does not meet the scheme requirements.
Please note that Northern's Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme is valid only on Northern services. If your journey includes travel with another train operator, you should check their mobility scooter policy and any permit requirements before you travel.
Follow these steps when taking your mobility scooter on a Northern train
- Do not cross the yellow line on the platform before the train arrives. We also ask that any shopping or luggage be removed from mobility scooters prior to boarding, as these items can affect the balance of the vehicle.
- We will put the ramp down so that you can board the wheelchair area of the train. If you are travelling without a companion, we will bring any shopping or luggage you are travelling with. When onboard, please turn off your scooter, apply the brakes, and, if possible, transfer to a seat.
- We recommend that you book in advance, but we are happy to accommodate you (if there is space available on the train) if you choose not to do so. Our Travel Assistance Team are available to help with any bookings or advice, they can be contacted on 0800 138 5560.
Find out where you can travel in our guidance booklet:
Guidance booklet
Exclusive offers
Northern has teamed up with TGA Mobility to offer Northern customers discounts on products. Find out more here.
Where can I use my scooter?
More information about mobility scooter friendly journeys can be found in our guidance booklet.
To make travelling with a mobility scooter easier, we'll soon be introducing a network map showing where scooters are permitted and where restrictions apply. Check back soon to explore the map and find the information you need before you travel.
Essential safety information
We’ve put together a few safety essentials to ensure you are protected when travelling with us.
- Shopping or luggage should be removed from the rear of the scooter prior to driving up the ramp. This is to ensure the stability of the vehicle and remove the risk of tipping.
- When driving on a station platform, please keep your speed to a minimum to ensure that you and those around you are not at risk.
- Never reverse backwards towards the edge of the platform, particularly when undertaking a 3-point turn.
- Always ensure your scooter is properly lined up with the ramp before riding up or down; do not attempt to board/alight from an angle.
- Once the scooter is in situ on board the train, please ensure the brakes are applied.
- Please check that your scooter is sufficiently charged prior to travelling, as the power sockets on the train are not the correct voltage for charging a motorised vehicle and must not be used as they could damage your vehicle or possibly the train.
- When driving on the ramp always face forward; do not attempt to reverse up or down the ramp.
- It is important to ensure that your scooter is in full working order prior to travelling and that if it has been previously dismantled or folded that it has been correctly reassembled.
Future plans
Keep an eye out on this page for information about our future plans for the Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme.
Useful information
E scooters / E bikes
E-scooters and most other powered transport devices are not permitted on Northern trains or within Northern stations.
Accessibility Hub
We’re making some big improvements, working hard to make our stations, trains and communities more accessible based on your feedback.
Travel with confidence
We want you to travel with confidence. We've been working hard to get things ready for your next journey and continue to make changes.
Details of all routes and stations are available in our guidance booklet. If you have any questions, please contact our Travel Assistance Team on 0800 138 5560.
If your station is on a route that allows mobility scooters, but your station doesn’t, that is likely to be due to one of several factors. We require the station to be fully accessible to accommodate safe boarding, the platform needs to be wide enough so that the ramp can be used and there is still 1.2m at the end of it to accommodate your scooter. The gradient of the ramp also needs to be within safe parameters.
If your station is on a route that is not yet within the scooter policy, please continue to check our website. We are looking to open more routes and stations as and when we can guarantee that the combination of trains and stations facilitates this.
There were several factors that we had to take into consideration to ensure that we were able to offer safe boarding to our customers. We will revisit these decisions if anything changes, such as station improvements and changes to trains.
All the information is contained on our website, but if you need a little extra support our customer experience team are always happy to help, their telephone number is 0800 200 6060.
No, you do not need a photograph, the permit is for your specific make and model of scooter and is specific to the scooter rather than a person.
Please allow 10 working days from us receiving your application to us mailing your permit out to you. There may be times when Royal Mail are particularly busy, but we will always try to turn around your application within 10 working days. If you have applied and are concerned your application is delayed please contact our customer experience centre on 0800 200 6060.
No, you will still require a valid train ticket for your journey.
We are working on a 10 working day turnaround, once you are in receipt of your permit you are ready to go out and enjoy your travels
No, your scooter must be a class 2 model with the capability of travelling at no more than 4mph. It should have anti-tip wheels at the back and have a turning circle of no more than 1.5m. Lastly, it must fit within the standard wheelchair footprint, which is 1.2m x .7m. If your scooter does not fit these criteria, unfortunately we cannot carry it on our trains unless it can be folded down and taken on board as luggage. If your scooter is folded and carried as luggage you do not need a permit for it.
Unfortunately, we cannot carry class 3 scooters on our trains.
We do require your scooter to have anti-tip wheels as this safety feature has given us more flexibility to allow scooters on parts of our network that we might otherwise have had to exclude. The good news is that anti-tip wheels can usually be bought online or from accessibility retailers and can be retrofitted to vehicles.
Our Passenger Assistance team are fully briefed on our scooter policy and routes/stations that have been made scooter friendly. Assistance can be booked here or through our helpline by calling 0800 138 5560 (Text Relay 18001 0800 138 556)
Our conductors are happy to help with the ramp and supporting you on and off the train, just make yourself known to the member of staff and ensure your permit is prominently displayed so that they know you have been successful in your application for a scooter permit.
The Passenger Assistance team will hold details of other operating companies across the network and will be able to advise you. We would never advise travelling with more than one train operating company without first checking out their ability to support you on your journey.
There may be times when the train is busy and the accessible space that can accommodate scooters and wheelchairs is full, if this happens the conductors will make you aware that they cannot accommodate you on the train but will advise as to when the next train is due.
Each train operator may have different criteria for issuing their permits as well as a variety of routes and stations that they can be accepted on, please check before you travel.
The Northern scooter permit is valid on Northern trains only, please check our website for the routes that are covered.
Scooters that are folded or broken down can travel on any of our services without a permit.
If you travel with a scooter permit and we encounter disruption, we will arrange onward travel for you. If you do not hold a scooter permit or your scooter wouldn’t pass the Northern mobility scooter permit scheme criteria, we cannot guarantee onward transport.
Permits are scooter specific, if you change your scooter you will need to apply for a new permit. Please get in touch with our contact centre for a replacement permit.
All the detail is contained within the briefing guide. Additional copies are available through our customer experience centre.
Our customer experience centre can be contacted on 0800 200 6060.
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