Spaces dedicated to people with disabilities need integration

In Europe, for one of five people public transport is a challenge because of old age, handicap and reduced mobility. For this reason, the European Union has established a series of regulations aimed at facilitating the access of these people to mobility. Regulations and becoming aware of these issues were the main factors which determined rolling stock manufacturers to develop solutions capable to create spaces dedicated to facilitating train travelling.

Thus, manufacturers building rolling stock for the transport of passengers are designing the inside of trains creating spaces dedicated to people with reduced mobility taking into account the technical specifications imposed by the EU and the demands of the people suffering from these problems. Special attention is given to this passenger segment, because, apart from special spaces, people need to be informed with respect to the accessibility of railway services, the conditions for accessing rolling stock and onboard equipments. In order to inform passengers with sensorial deficiencies about delays, problems caused by incidents etc, companies have to invest in buying the appropriate visual and audio systems and implement them both in railway stations and inside trains.
One of the most important aspects in integrating disabled people is the wheel chair. Taking this into consideration, the train has to be equipped with access ramps, mobile belts and automatic elevator, solutions that have to be easy to access and use by all reduced mobility passengers.
For example, the wheel chair elevator has to be safe and perfectly adapted to electric chairs, providing comfort to the passenger and equipped with special installations on both sides (right/left). Also, in order to be easy to manipulate, the platform has to be equipped with hydraulic lifting systems, adopting a vertical position for facilitating access.
For creating a special space inside the train, it is necessary an area strictly dedicated to disabled people: at least two such spaces per railcar are needed for wheel chairs as well as a design providing space for the disabled passenger and his or hers attendant. The two seats have mobile characteristics, so that when the passenger in the wheel chair accesses the dedicated space, the seat could be plied to permit setting the wheel chair. For optimising accessibility, more than 10% of the total capacity of a train (number of seats) has a special design, including tens of specially equipped seats.
Moreover, each train has to be equipped with special toilets, large spaces and hallways for safely moving around. The area where the toilet is doesn’t have to exclude the integrated area inside the railcar.
The interior design of trains has to eliminate any difficulty regarding the passengers’ mobility, by introducing efficient facilities and solutions, elements that have to be integrated inside the trains in order to deliver disabled people optimal comfort and accessibility.

by Pamela Luică


Share on:
Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

 

RECOMMENDED EVENT: