COST 335: Ten Years On A Review of Progress Ann Frye Ann Frye Ltd

COST Is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology; It provides a platform for European experts to cooperate on a particular project and exchange expertise; The initiative for a new COST action must come from a Member State and be supported by at least four others. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

COST 335- Passengers’ Accessibility of Heavy Rail Systems Collaborative European project involving experts from 17 countries and 4 international organisations; Participants represented railway operators and manufacturers, Governments , academic experts and disability organisations; Reported in 1999 after three years work; A Stations Design handbook was published in 2004. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

COST 335 The purpose of COST 335 was to provide guidance on best practice in meeting the needs of rail travellers with reduced mobility; Material was drawn from operating experience, from research and from the expertise of participants; The report was intended primarily for the rail industries and for public authorities responsible for transport. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

COST 335 The report covered: The case for accessible railways; Rolling stock design; Bridging the gap from platform to train; Stations- design for all; Information; Training; Costs & Benefits; Marketing. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Who is it about? Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Removal of Barriers to Travel COST335 identified the major barriers to rail travel: Physical barriers: access to trains and stations; Financial barriers: cost of travel; Information barriers: availability and understandability; Confidence barrier: is the whole journey manageable? Time barrier: can booking arrangements be made in time? Can the train be reached in time? The most important of these is confidence; Without confidence in the system, people will not travel. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Ten Years on........ Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

The Case for Accessible Railways Over the past 10 years there has been: A significant increase in “rights” based legislation protecting disabled people at both national and European (EU) levels; A much greater recognition of the rights agenda in almost every country; A body of legislation setting policies and standards for accessibility at both EU and national levels; Much of this draws on the work of COST 335. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Physical Barriers: Rolling stock The TSI (Technical Standards for Interoperability) sets technical access standards, many of them based on COST 335 recommendation; Some signs of good progress: In January 2009 RENFE announced major investment both in new accessible rolling stock and in access improvements for existing vehicles; In the UK which has had accessibility requirements for new rolling stock in place since 1998, some 42% of the national heavy rail fleet is now accessible. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Physical Barriers: “Man Machine Interface” But in April 2008 an article in the European Railway Review reported that: “Our society has committed itself to provide equal access to the public transport system for all citizens. Despite common efforts to improve the accessibility of the rolling stock, there are still some deficiencies towards the Men Machine Interfaces (MMI’s) on mainline trains for physically and sensory impaired people.” Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Physical Barriers: “Man Machine Interface” Bridging the gaps – both vertical and horizontal - between platform and train remains a major problem; It is made worse by lack of consistency in platform heights across Europe; COST 335 recommended platforms at least 760mm above track level; Different access solutions are needed according to the size of the gap; High steps remain a problem for many older people. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Mind the Gap! Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Physical Barriers: Stations A press recent press report in Germany noted that “Almost three-quarters of Germany’s train stations are wheelchair accessible but facilities vary greatly between the country's 16 states”. Old station infrastructure means that similar problems are common throughout Europe. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Physical Barriers: Stations There are also some good examples of access improvements at old stations; But some new stations repeat old mistakes... Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Financial Barriers Disabled people are still more likely than the general public to be on low incomes; The cost of rail travel varies significantly across Europe; Passenger Rights Regulation 1371/2007requires that reservations and tickets be offered to disabled people at no additional cost; For those who need to travel with a companion the cost can still be too high. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Information Barriers Without information you do not feel in control; You need information to: Plan your journey; Find your way round the station/buy a ticket; Check the train time/find the right platform; Find your seat; Check if you are on time; Find out when you need to get off or change trains; Find your way out of the station and onward to other transport connections. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Information Barriers While networks and services are only partially accessible, it is vital to know when you can travel and where you can get on and off ; In many systems that information is not available or not reliable; To date only 7 railways have information on the UIC accessibility website. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Confidence Barriers Without confidence that all the stages or a journey are manageable, many disabled and older people will not feel confident to travel; Problems still include: Unstaffed stations; Unstaffed trains; Information about the need for assistance not passed on from point of departure to point of arrival; Regulation 1371/2007 requires rail undertakings to “make all reasonable efforts” to enable disabled people to travel when there are no staff on the station or train. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Confidence Barriers COST 335 highlighted the great importance of training staff to understand the needs of disabled passengers; Properly trained staff are a key part of building confidence; The PRM TSI includes a training requirement for all customer facing staff as well as engineers and managers. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Confidence Barriers Rail Passenger Rights Regulation (1371/2007): Comes into force on 3rd December 2009; Intended to give disabled people “comparable opportunities” to travel to those of other citizens; Member States may exempt domestic rail passenger services and urban, suburban and regional services; but There is no derogation from the obligation to provide non-discriminatory access for disabled people and to provide information for them; This should – in time – provide the reassurance of a seamless journey that many disabled people need. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Time Barriers Large stations often mean long distances; Leipzig station has 26 platforms and 140 shops and restaurants; Older people can struggle with luggage and unfamiliar surroundings; Assistance is not always available at the requested time; Regulation 1371/2007 requires assistance to be provided (at staffed stations) so that disabled people can board or disembark; Unlike the parallel air passenger rights Regulation it does not specify designated points of arrival and departure from which assistance must be provided. Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

Summary There have been a lot of improvements in the last 10 years; in: Legislation and standards; Policies and understanding; Station accessibility; Rolling stock accessibility; But there are still too many gaps: disabled people cannot yet travel across or around Europe by rail with confidence......... Ann Frye Ltd 20/05/2019

COST 335: Ten Years On A Review of Progress Ann Frye Ann Frye Ltd