Physical accessibility of rail platforms

Train accessibility becomes crucial with Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM), to whom it is necessary to guarantee safe and comfortable train boarding and alighting (B&A). The methodology of the study underlying the described good practice, is based on two activities. The first activity focused on the design specifications of boarding aid (- a train-based automated ramp). The second activity deals with a prototypical physical demonstrator conceived by MASATS (company offering inter alia rail accessibility systems) as an adaptive device to bridge horizontal (max. 35cm) and vertical (max. 14cm) gaps between train and station platform.

An integrated vehicle-based ultrasonic sensor system detects (a) the position of the platform (for a straight platform, one sensor per door is used, while for a curved platform two sensors are employed), (b) the relative position of the platform level to the moving plate itself; two sensors are positioned on both ends of the moving plate. The information is sent to an electronic control unit onboard, which monitors the minimum distance necessary to allow safe deployment of the moving plate. The proposed system decides what to do based on the platform geometry and layout. As a result, the bridge between the train and the platform is automatically adjusted, allowing all passengers, including Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) to board and alight in the same way.

Selected PRMs tested the device's effectiveness, reliability, and safety. Starting from the design of the testing procedure, the said study describes, according to the EU project CARBODIN, the outcomes of the experimental activities in simulating and assessing the train accessibility for a sample of 11 PRMs. The sample was composed of a person with visual impairment, a person using crutches, 4 users in manual wheelchairs and 5 users in electric wheelchairs.

The proposed solution makes B&A movements autonomous for PRMs. This solution is consistent with the PRM Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI), where safe and obstacle-free access to rolling stock should ensure PRMs’ dignity and integrity.

More about physical accessibility of rail platforms.

Disclaimer:

Accessible EU is not responsible for the accessibility of content provided by third parties.