Disability compliance in Europe

[johnnychips]

There's been a lot of chat on the national threads about Pacers having to be withdrawn because of non-disabled toilets by 2020.

I was in Latvia last week, and while the trains were fine and punctual, each carriage required three very steep steps to get on. It made me wonder how disabled people got on the trains, let alone use the toilet. A lot of other European countries also have low platforms.

So how are European countries going to comply with these laws? The sceptic in me says that us and the Germans will bother about this, but others will find ways round it.

I know there are several members from other countries on this forum, so I'd be delighted to hear their opinions.

 

[Groningen]

Our SLT (NS) in the Netherlands have no toilets (picture below). That material is only used for stopping at all stations. In (uch, uch) 2025 all NS-trains should have toilets again.

Also some private operators have no toilets. Main private operator is Arriva. In the north all trains have 1 toilet + electric line from Zwolle to Emmen. But the line from Dordrecht to Geldermalsen, Tiel - Arnhem, Arnhem - Winterswijk and Apeldoorn - Winterswijk all trains have no toilet. On trains from Syntus toilets are built in since 2013.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks, that is a very interesting reply. That has just made me think, is there any directive that a toilet has to be provided over, say, a certain distance or time. Because if there isn't, then couldn't you have the daft situation of locking toilets on certain train classes and saying, "this service doesn't have a toilet, so self-evidently it doesn't have to be disabled-compliant".

 

[Groningen]

It is dutch (not english), but you get a guess how we think about toilets on trains.

http://www.treinenmettoiletten.nl/

 

[steevp]

The article linked says that trains where most people travel more than half an hour should have toilets. I think it is an hour in the UK, but someone may know better or can quote an authorative source

 

[30907]

So how are European countries going to comply with these laws? The sceptic in me says that us and the Germans will bother about this, but others will find ways round it.

Virtually every country I can think of is buying compliant new stock and gradually adjusting platform heights but whether all older stock in central Europe will be withdrawn in 2020 I am not so sure!

For non low - floor stock bigger stations have been equipped with mobile wheelchair lifts - the first I recall seeing was in 1981.

 

[tranzitjim]

The best way for Europe to become compliant is, for the whole continent to move over to British style high level platforms?

 

[edwin_m]

The best way for Europe to become compliant is, for the whole continent to move over to British style high level platforms?

Or even higher. But they will have to be further back from the track than British platforms are, to clear the wider trains. So they won't be compatible with British stock.

 

[duesselmartin]

Germany is certainly far from disable friendly. And in the Düsseldorf area, a step back was made with the new S8 trains.
But its not just trains. Terminal 1 of Frankfurt Airport I found very challenging pushing a pram

 

[Bletchleyite]

The best way for Europe to become compliant is, for the whole continent to move over to British style high level platforms?

SBB are doing it by buying rolling stock with low level entrances. Either option works (though obviously you can only choose one or you end up with a step down instead!)

Neil