Access and disability

Accessibility features

There are various features on buses, trains and trams to help people living with disability.

Drivers can’t physically help you get on to vehicles or lift mobility devices. If you can’t do these things independently, please bring someone who can help you. You may be able to get a companion card for your helper so there are no extra trip costs.

Ramps

All buses, trains and trams have ramps to help people who need them to board. If you are using a mobility aid, make sure you drive on to ramps with the wheels straight and do not turn while you are on the ramp.

To get on a bus, wait until the driver stops the bus and sets up the ramp for you at the front door of the bus, or tilts the bus so you can board directly.

To get on to a train or tram, wait on the white and blue ‘boarding patch’ with the international symbol for disability. It will line up with the first door of the train or tram when it stops. The driver or a passenger service assistant will set up the access ramp for you or you can board independently if you are able to.

Reflective ticket wallets are available for people who do not have an obvious physical disability or mobility aid. Hold it up for the driver to see when you are signalling that you want the bus, train or tram to stop so the driver knows you need to use the boarding ramp. Call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 to order a reflective ticket wallet.

When you want the bus, train or tram to let you off at the next stop or station, use the ‘next stop’ or ‘ramp request’ call button in the allocated space. The allocated space buttons notify the driver that you need a ramp to exit.

Priority seats and allocated spaces on-board

The icon represents a person sitting on a seat, contained within a circle. It uses a red and black colour scheme.Blue and white international symbol for disability. Text within the image reads 'this area must be vacated when required by a passenger in a wheelchair'.

There are seats and spaces with signs on them for people who:

  • use wheelchairs and other mobility aids
  • have assistance dogs
  • may have difficulties standing safely
  • are pregnant
  • are with children in prams.

Always apply the brakes on your wheelchair, mobility aid or pram. If you use a walking aid with a seat, it is not safe to use the seat while on public transport.

While any passenger can use an empty priority seat or space, you must move if someone else needs it more than you do. Please remember that not all disabilities or mobility issues are easy to see.

Passengers with vision loss

If you have vision loss and are waiting at a bus stop with a white cane or assistance dog, drivers will stop and tell you what route number they are driving. Please tell the driver which stop you’ll need to finish your trip, so they know when to stop.

Trains and trams stop at every station, unless they are operating as an express service. Once you are on-board, each approaching stop is announced over the loudspeaker.

Call the Adelaide Metro InfoLine on 1300 311 108 to order a reflective ticket wallet. As you hear your vehicle approaching, hold up the wallet to signal that you want the bus, train or tram to stop and that you need assistance from the driver.

You can also apply for a vision-impaired travel pass, for free travel on all Adelaide Metro services.

The Special Pass for Person with Vision Impairment, entitles the holder to free travel on all Adelaide Metro bus, train and tram services. If the holder is unable to, or chooses not to use or validate the metroCARD Special Pass, they can still use their VIP Travel Pass.

Assistance animals

Assistance animals travel free on all scheduled Adelaide Metro services. The animal must be:

  • a dog accredited under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 as a disability dog, guide dog or hearing dog
  • any other accredited animal trained to assist a person to alleviate the effect of a disability
  • trained for the purpose of assisting a person living with disability.

When using a bus, train or tram, assistance animal owners and trainers must carry a:

  • valid metroCARD for themselves
  • prescribed accreditation identification for the animal from
    • Assistance Dogs Australia
    • Guide Dogs SA/NT (owner’s pass or puppy raising pass)
    • Lions Hearing Dogs
    • Righteous Pups Australia Inc.
    • The Royal Society for the Blind SA (owner’s pass or training pass)
    • Vision Australia
    • Dog and Cat Management Board
    • an equivalent interstate organisation
  • any appropriate concession cards.

Your assistance animal must meet hygiene standards and behave in a safe and appropriate way for public transport.

Please note there are penalties for falsely claiming an animal is an assistance animal.

The Dog and Cat Management Board provides information about assistance animals.

Public transport concessions

You may be able to get cheap or free public transport if you hold certain concession cards or have a permanent and severe disability.

Use the concession finder tool to see what you may be eligible for.

Adelaide Metro’s commitment to accessible journeys

We work to the standards within the Disability Discrimination Act, to make our public transport network more accessible and to prevent discrimination against people living with disability. Following the standards in the Act also benefits many older Australians and parents with infants in prams who use public transport services.

The Adelaide Metro public transport network is constantly being upgraded, including new bus shelters and train stations. If we can make it easier for you to use Adelaide Metro services and facilities, please give us your feedback so we can consider it in our planning.

Wayfinding and alternative signage

We are continually updating signage throughout the Adelaide Metro network to improve access. This includes:

  • making sure there is enough contrast between colours used on signs
  • placing signs at a height that people with vision impairments, wheelchair users and people with assistance animals can see and feel them
  • using Braille, raised text, symbols, pictograms and arrows
  • using walls, kerbs, tactile surfaces and handrails to help wayfinding
  • audible information as well as printed signage.

Related information

Legislation and standards