Disabled Activists' Guide To Getting To Washington DC
updated 2/24/03
I do not personally endorse any of these companies, however, Greyhound is the only bus company I know of that has frequent stops in DC from many othe states. Disability rights activists have fought Greyhound for a number of years to get the buses to be more accessible for wheelchairs.
Traveling on Greyhound Buses:
Greyhound has more than one station in the DC area.
Some buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts; most are not. Greyhound asks you to call 48 hours in advance of your trip to get accomodations for a disability. Lift equipment and "alternative lifting" (ie, people lift the chair) are available for buses that are not wheelchair accessible. You can request priority seating. Thanks to the efforts of disability rights activists, Greyhound provides the below information now:
Customers with Disabilities Travel Assistance Line:
1-800-752-4841
Deaf/hard of hearing/TTY/TDD
1-800-345-3109
Web Page:
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE):
The VRE train system runs to Washington DC on two lines. One goes to and from Charlottesville, VA; the other goes to and from Fredericksburg.
The VRE is basically a commuter train, however, you can can use it to travel with small amounts of luggage. An advantage to the VRE, if you are coming in from Virginia, is they have a discounted fare for people with disabilities which will likely make your trip cheaper than a bus ticket on Greyhound. The VRE has hours of operation which are not as flexible as taking a bus might be, but your trip could be shorter and cheaper. It is advised to arrive early and if possible, travel at a time of day when commuters are not likely to be filling the train. The VRE does not reserve seats.
Call 1-800-RIDE-VRE
There may also be a VRE map in your phone book if you live in Northern Virginia.
Traveling with Amtrak:
Amtrak has a discount for people with disabilities. It is not as big a discount as their rale sail fares are, which is why information on the rale sails is below. They require a letter from a doctor or a "disability organization" (what exactly that means I do not know), but a Medicare card, for someone who is not a senior citizen, might be acceptable. This is the web page of information on this discount:
Amtrak's trip planning pages of information for people with disabilities, which exists thanks to the efforts of disability rights' activists:
Though the assistance available at Amtrak stations varies around the country, as many small stations do not have staff to assist people, the Washington DC Union Station has plenty of "red caps" available. This is a very large train station, and people who cannot walk long distances but do not regularly use a wheelchair,
can get wheelchair assistance. They have carts to drive you from the train to the station, and wheelchairs to push you throughout the station.
To make sure you get this assistance, let a staff person on the train know that when you arrive in Washington you will need a :"red cap" (ie, employee) assist you, and it also helps to mention this when you order the ticket.
Smaller stations often do not have staff members who will be available to help you derail from the train and carry your luggage. Some do not have elevators. It is a good idea to find out this information before ordering your ticket. Amtrak's web site claims they will be happy to assist you at any of their stations. In reality, there are stations where they have no employees available to assist you, so this is not actually the case.
At Union Station in Washington there are many taxis available, and a Metro (subway) station.
Amtrak offers a program only online called "Rail Sale". You cannot combine this discount with other discounts. If one of these trains stops in Washington DC, and coincides with the dates of your trip, you can save up to 90% of the regular
cost of a ticket. They will not sell these tickets via telephone or in person, only on the
internet. To see current Rail Sale routes, go here:
Amtrak does not reserve seats for coach tickets. Some trains, on commuter routes (for example from New York City to DC, work on a first come, first serve basis. But usually, this is not the case. If you have a ticket, you have a seat, but not a specific seat. It might be helpful when you board the train to ask to sit close to the restroom, if walking during the train ride is difficult for you. It might also be helpful to ask to not be near the dining or lounge cars, if cigarette smoke is bothersome, as this can have a bad effect on people with allergies and chemical sensitivities, particularly if you are sitting right near the door to the dining car and the smoke is entering your lungs for the entire trip.
If You Need to Lie Down
Amtrak's tickets for sleeper cars are much more expensive than regular seats. However, as many people have deserted trains for airplanes that eat up money and fossil fuels, you may be lucky and find yourself an empty seat next to you where you can lie down. It might also be helpful to ask, when you are boarding the train, which area would be the least likely to be filling up with people soon, and explain you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to sit up for long periods. A train conductor can point you in the direction where you might be least likely to have someone sit next to you soon, and this can give you some extra space to rest if you need it.
Other Tips:
Amtrak allows food and beverages, and it can save you money to bring your own on the train.
Whether riding a bus or a train, having any medications you need to take during the trip in a bag next to your seat and not over your head or stored in a compartment, is always a good idea.
