A new Changing Places toilet has been built at Great Yarmouth station in Norfolk to support those who cannot use standard-sized accessible toilets.

Funded in part by the Department for Transport and installed by Greater Anglia, in collaboration with the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Muscular Dystrophy UK, the new facilities enable passengers who require greater assistance to use the toilet.

Changing Places toilets are larger than disabled toilets; the extra space allows for equipment such as a bench, a hoist and privacy screens, which can be used by one person or a person and a carer (s), offering a more dignified way of using the lavatory. The cubicle can also act as a changing facility.

While the installation of the new toilet cubicle was under construction, the option was taken to refurbish the existing toilets and waiting room. The male, female and accessible toilets have all seen new paint and light fittings. The waiting room has received new flooring and seats with a new energy-efficient heating system and a new information/departure board screen, all enhancing the customer experience.

“I am delighted that we have been able to install a Changing Places toilet at Great Yarmouth as part of our station upgrade project, which will provide more people with the confidence and opportunity to travel by rail.

We want to make sure that everyone can have a good journey with us and can travel with confidence and dignity, so this is a really positive step. We look forward to bringing more of these facilities to other stations on our network, where possible, in the future.”

Rebecca Richardson, Greater Anglia’s Accessibility Manager

“We’re delighted that Greater Anglia has opened a Changing Places toilet at Great Yarmouth station. This will be a game-changer for passengers living with neuromuscular conditions and those living with other disabilities, for their carers, and for families in need of such a facility.

An estimated 250,000 people across the UK are in need of a Changing Places toilet. The new facility will allow people to have an accessible journey that otherwise may have been excluded. This is one of several new Changing Places toilets across the rail network and we hope this number will rise to make travelling easier across the whole network.”

Andy Fletcher, CEO Muscular Dystrophy UK