Help from staff
Staff assistance
We have staff at all Tube, Elizabeth line and London Overground stations whenever services are running. Some piers, all boats, the IFS Cloud Cable Car and Victoria Coach Station are staffed too.
Trams and buses are staffed by the driver.
Most DLR stations are unstaffed, but Passenger Service Agents are on trains. If you need assistance to travel on the DLR you can pre-book this by calling 0808 281 6655 (Freefone) or by booking online at Accessible travel on the DLR. Everyone is welcome to use the assistance. This is initially being run as a trial until November 2024.
On most of our rail services, piers and boats, staff can give advice, information and assistance. Ask them if you need help planning a route or buying a ticket.
Turn up and go service
We offer a turn up and go service on the Tube, London Overground and Elizabeth line.
Our turn up and go service is available to everyone, including those with visual or mobility impairments, and families or groups. For instance, school trips.
Our staff are trained to give assistance to customers, including guiding visually-impaired customers by the arm and helping wheelchair users get on and off trains.
As part of our turn up and go service, our staff will:
- Let you know if there are unplanned disruptions and suggest alternative step free access routes
- Accompany you from the ticket hall to the platform and help you board the train
- Help you get off the train at any interchange stations and board the next train
- Help you get off the train when you arrive at your final destination, and accompany you back to the ticket hall
- Arrange a mini-ramp or boarding ramp, if required (and available)
If for any reason we are not able to offer you turn up and go assistance, or step-free access is unavailable, staff will help you to plan an alternative step-free journey to your destination.
If there isn't a reasonable alternative route, we'll book you an accessible taxi (at our cost). This will to take you to another step-free station. from where you can continue your journey, or to your destination station within the Greater London area - whichever is quicker and more convenient for you. This could be a Tube, London Overground, Elizabeth line or National Rail station.
Step-free journeys
There are lifts, level-access platforms and boarding ramps in many of our stations so you don't have to use the stairs or escalators to use our services. We offer boarding ramps and mini ramps on the Tube and boarding ramps on buses and boats, so you can avoid steps and gaps when you get on and off our services.
All DLR stations have step-free access from the street to the train with lifts or ramps at every station. Trams, piers, the IFS Cloud Cable Car and buses are all step-free too.
For more information about making step-free journeys, visit our Wheelchair access and avoiding stairs page.
If you aren't sure whether you need a boarding ramp on your journey, use the TfL Go app or the Step-free Tube guide to check, or look out for messages in Journey Planner. Staff will be happy help you too.
Changes to stations, queuing and lifts
Check before you travel on the TfL Go app or our Journey Planner tool. You can find out about quieter stations and travel times too.
If there are queues outside a Tube station, customers who identify themselves as disabled should be allowed to enter the station without queueing - this includes carers and assistants accompanying you. Make yourself known to a member of staff.
Check planned works that are affecting stations, lifts and escalators.
Booking staff assistance from Passenger Assist
You can book assistance in advance on the London Overground and Elizabeth line as part of the national Passenger Assist service.
You need to book Passenger Assist assistance at least 2 hours ahead of your journey.
You can book Passenger Assist by:
- Calling 0343 222 2000 (call charges may apply). Phone lines are open 24 hours every day (except Christmas Day)
- Booking online on the Passenger Assistance booking form
- Using the Passenger Assistance app from the Apple App store or Google Play Store
Passenger Assistance app
If you use the app to book, you will still need to pay for your journey separately in the usual way.
You can use the Passenger Assistance app to:
- Book assistance for your rail journey
- Manage your customer profile
- View your travel history
- Browse rail journeys using the online journey planner
The app can be used to request assistance for future journeys across the whole National Rail network.
Find out more on National Rail's help and assistance page.
How to find staff
On the Tube, London Overground and Elizabeth line, station staff are encouraged to offer help to anyone who looks as though they might need assistance. If you cannot immediately see a member of staff, they can usually be found in the ticket hall or gateline, or on platforms at busier times.
On the DLR and trams, most stops and stations are unstaffed, although you can find a member of staff on the train or tram. Staff are available at Victoria Coach station, IFS Cloud Cable Car terminals and on piers and boats.
Help points can be found throughout our networks. You can use them to contact staff for information and assistance or in an emergency. Many have induction loops to work with hearing aids.
Staff help on buses
All bus drivers are trained to help customers who need assistance.
Drivers will:
- Pull in close to the kerb to reduce the gap
- Lower the bus to reduce the step up
- Lower the access ramp if needed
- Ask customers to make space for wheelchair users, mobility scooter users and customers using other mobility aids, unless it is unreasonable for them to do so
- Wait until you're seated or holding on before pulling away
Ask the bus driver if you need any further information or help.
As you board the bus, touch in to pay your fare as indicated.
Wheelchair and mobility aid users have priority in the wheelchair area.
The wheelchair space can be shared with a buggy owner, providing the driver believes the space is big enough and the wheelchair user or mobility scooter user agrees to do so.
Travel support card
We produce a travel support card to help people communicate any assistance or information requirements they have with staff.
There is space on the card to write down what assistance or information you need. You can use a travel support card on all our services.
Order your Travel Support card.
Alternatively you can download and print your own copies.
We also run a Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme which helps you check that your mobility scooter is suitable to travel on our buses.
If you have a mobility impairment, you may be able to get subsidised taxi and minicab travel in London through the Taxicard scheme managed by London Councils.