Accessibility

Access For All
Information to help you plan your visit

We are committed to ensuring the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway is as accessible as possible to all visitors. If you have any queries, or need assistance, please ask a member of staff, they will be happy to help you.

Opening times
We are open from 10.30am through to 4.30pm, please see our What’s On page for our programmed open days.

Trains run on our programmed open days from 11am through to 3.15pm approximately every 30 minutes.

Travelling to the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
Visiting by car
Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5PW. The MSLR Museum and Station is just off the A140 Ipswich (14 miles) to Norwich (28 miles) Road. Look for the Mendlesham TV mast and then follow the brown signs.
There is ample free parking.

Visiting by train
The nearest mainline train stations are Diss and Stowmarket. There are taxi ranks at both of these stations.

Visiting by bus
Our main open days are on Sunday and being a rural station, unfortunately there are no scheduled direct bus links to us. However we are pleased to announce that in conjunction with the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group there will be services to selected events and Friday Bar nights. Keep up to date with the What’s On and News pages of this website.

Parking
Free car and coach parking is available. The main car park has an even surface and there are designated on-site parking bays for blue badge holders. On larger event days parking for less abled visitors may be in a car park off site but an on-site drop-off zone is available.

Admission
Most visitors enter the museum through the Ticket Office inside the shop although on busy days you may be directed to a kiosk. The Ticket Office has a level entry and exit.
The admissions desk is fitted with an induction loop.

One carer to assist a disabled visitor is admitted free of charge for every full paying disabled visitor. Please bring along proof of entitlement.

The museum site
Moving around the site
Wheelchairs are available for loan, free of charge on a first come basis. Please email events@mslr.org.uk to reserve a wheelchair, availability will be confirmed to you.
Terrain
Although the site is fairly level, the ground composes of a mix of concrete and large gravel throughout the site.

Museum buildings
All the building are level entry and wheelchair accessible.
The restoration shed has a slight incline accessible concrete ramp and handrails.

Trains
Platform
Brockford Station platform is accessed via a steep incline. The station staff will assist passengers as required.

Dovebrook platform has an exit/entrance ramp with a graded incline.

Please take care when on or around our station. The platform edge is picked out in a different colour.

Coaches
Our vintage coaches may prove difficult to access for disabled passengers and visitors with limited mobility. The inherent design of these vintage coaches means that they cannot be readily adapted for disabled access.

We provide a ramp which can be used to give wheelchair visitors access to The Guards Van, this may also be used by those finding it difficult stepping up into the carriage.

As powered scooters are designed for the about-town environment and come in different shapes and sizes, many of them are unsuitable for train travel. Wheelchairs can be carried, in the designated spaces, on most of our trains so long as they fit within the following dimensions: length 1200mm – width 700mm

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed on the train.

There are no toilet facilities on any of our trains.

Toilets
Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available on the main site, with additional temporary facilities provided for larger event days. There are no toilets are the Dovebrook site.

Eating and Drinking
The Tea Room (level access) offers hot food, sandwiches, freshly baked cakes and hot and cold drinks. Refreshments are chosen at the counter, but staff will bring them to your table on request.

The room is well-lit and has ample room for a wheelchair to manoeuvre. Tables and chairs are not permanently fixed and staff are willing to move them to suit your needs. There are drinking straws available.

There is also an outside seating area in front of the tea room.

The Bar Coach is inside a vintage coach and may prove difficult to access for disabled passengers and visitors with limited mobility. Tables and chairs are out the front and side of the bar coach on a level surface. Staff will serve you at your table on request.

First aid
Some members of staff are qualified to give First Aid assistance. Most days are also attended by a member of St John’s Ambulance. Visitors may go directly to the First Aid room or ask any member of staff to call a first aider to the scene.

Guide and assistance dogs
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. Water bowls are provided near to the on-site toilets.

Seating
Seating is available throughout the site.