Accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. EU Railway Conference 8 th May 2014 Antoine DEFOSSEZ, Project Officer

Transcription

1 Accessibility for persons with reduced mobility EU Railway Conference 8 th May 2014 Antoine DEFOSSEZ, Project Officer

2 Content of the presentation Historical background before ERA Inputs for the revision of the PRM TSI Evolution of the requirements Implementation strategy Example : the UK case Conclusion

3 A Little Bit of Recent History (Railways and Europe only)

4 : COST 335 COST: European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research Duration : 3 years; completed October Participation : 17 COST Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. International organisations: European Disability Forum, UITP, UIC, UNIFE. Objectives : The main objective is to produce guidance for governments and railway operators on best practice in achieving full accessibility for their services and facilities. To be addressed are both technical and economic issues and the extent to which totally independent access can be achieved. Output : Passengers Accessibility of Heavy Rail Systems: Final Report of the Action The case for accessible railways Rolling stock design Bridging the gap from platform to train Stations design for all Information Training

5 : PRM TSI, 1st draft 2002: Mandate to AEIF for drafting a TSI enhancing the accessibility of rail transport to the people with reduced mobility PRM TSI Drafted in , Approved by the RISC 41 in June 2006, Finally adopted by the Commission in december 2007 (Commission Decision 2008/164/EC of 21 December 2007 concerning the technical specification of interoperability relating to persons with reduced mobility in the trans-european conventional and high-speed rail system) Entered into force on July 1st, subsystems covered, infrastructure and rolling stock Applicable on the High-speed and Conventional TEN networks Applicable to new subsystems, and subsystems being upgraded

6 : State of Play

7 Study about the evolution of the TSI Evolution of the PRM TSI? Splitting / Keeping a dedicated TSI? Long term Rolling stock parameters in the LOC&PAS TSI, Platform parameters in the INF TSI, Operational parameters in the OPE TSI, Stations governed by legislation relative to accessibility to the built environment, EN standards in support with definitions and assessment methods. Short term: no alternative to the PRM TSI for all the requirements dealing with accessibility to the stations

8 Analysis of the current implementation of the TSI 7 MSs included in the study: AT, CZ, DE, ES, NL, PL, UK. They form a balanced representation of the EU situation. Some of the major findings Two major decision points which define whether the PRM TSI applies, The PRM TSI is not a driver for investment in accessibility but National Plans are When a National Plan exist, all is made to avoid the application of the TSI perceived as excessive administrative burden The geographic scope extension will likely have a negligible impact on rolling stock but a sizable impact on infrastructure depending on the writing of chapter 7 Why administrative burden? too detailed requirements, sometimes contradicting national laws need for third party inspection need for requesting derogations in BXL Example: marking of transparent obstacles

9 : Revision of the TSI Evolution of the TSI Requirements

10 Principle for the revision of the requirements that apply to Stations LONDON (Saint Pancras, British Library, British Museum) MADRID (Atocha, Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum)

11 Evolution of the requirements that apply to Stations Deletion Simplification Adaptation to users needs Adaptation according to the return of experience

12 Evolution of the requirements that apply to Rolling Stock Simplification Adaptation to users needs Adaptation according to the return of experience

13 Conformity Assessment for Infrastructure and for Constituents Approved for Stations STATIONS DESIGN BOOK COMPANY X Reduced number of constituents Approval at design level

14 : Revision of the TSI Implementation Strategy

15 On the way to Accessibility

16 Implementation Strategy: A two-step approach Identification of obstacles Elimination of obstacles

17 Identification of obstacles Inventories of Assets Picture the actual situation Inform Passengers Set up a Policy Monitor implementation

18 Specification for the «Swiss army knife» content, data format, functional and technical architecture, operating mode, rules for data input and consultation, rules for self-assessment designation of the entities responsible for data provision

19 Elimination of obstacles National Implementation Plans Progressive elimination of obstacles by a gradual transition Strategy for implementing the TSI decided at Member State level, No minimum quantity or percentage of subsystems to be covered by the National Plans, TSI compliance can be achieved through a gradual improvement, Existing projects can be included in the Plan

20 Case Study: Passenger Information and Accessibility Improvements in the United Kingdom

21 Reminder: A Few Figures About Accessibility UK statistics 61% overall accessibility of stations (rank #1) 65% accessibility of platforms (rank #1) 63% accessibility of carriages (rank #1) 57% pre-journey information (rank #1) 58% assistance (rank #1)

22 Conclusions

23 The Revised PRM TSI is opening a new era Covering the complete EU network Requirements better adapted Reduced administrative burden Easier assessment Mandatory Passenger Information Mandatory implementation to the existing subsystems Monitoring by measuring the actual improvements

24 Next steps Publication of the TSI in the OJ by the end of 2014 Entry into application: January 2015 Member States notify their NIP: January 2017 Development of the Inventories of Assets: Establishment of European Advisory Body: February 2015

25 The European Advisory Body Facilitates exchange of best practices Makes recommendations Monitors the development of inventory of assets Assists the Commission (EU priorities) Supports Member States for their inventory and plan

26 BUT Spontaneous & Independent Mobility?

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