Division 4.1.12 Characteristics linked to the carriage of persons of reduced mobility (BP22)

The railway company has to take the necessary measures to guarantee the access of persons of reduced mobility to the operated vehicles. The horizontal and vertical surfaces required for the fixed installations are specified in the infrastructure TSI.

With two possible platform heights (550 mm and 760 mm) specified in the infrastructure TSI, it is unlikely that level access from platform to train will be achieved in all parts of the network. It will therefore be necessary to use technical and operational solutions to overcome this problem for disabled passengers. There are several solutions available that could be adopted on the trans-European high speed network which include:

• rolling stock solutions:

  • bridging ramp integrated into rolling stock

  • lift integrated into rolling stock,

• infrastructure solutions:

  • platform lift

  • partially raised platform (i.e. section of all platforms at 750 mm),

• operational solutions:

  • portable ramp deployed by operating staff

  • mobile lift deployed by operating staff.

Access to trains for those with reduced mobility shall be possible. Since ‘disabled passengers’ includes wheelchair users (WCU), provisions for wheelchair users shall be designed to accommodate a ‘wheelchair’ conforming to the dimensions specified in ISO 7193. High-speed trains should be specifically equipped to meet their needs with an adapted toilet, space for at least one wheelchair, and gangways and doors of sufficient width.

These measures shall be put in place during upgrading or new building as disabled access measures are incorporated into harmonised national legislation.