The Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) has presented passenger railcars adapted to accommodate people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups at a meeting with public organizations. The implementation of new solutions in the manufacture and modernization of rolling stock for barrier-free access from train platforms to railcars was discussed at the meeting.
Ukrzaliznytsia announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports.
The meeting was attended by the NGOs Bezbariernist, Dostupno.UA, and the National Assembly of People with Disabilities, as well as by representatives of the Kryukov Railcar Building Works and the Kyiv Electric Railcar Repair Plant.
"Ukrzaliznytsia continues to implement the Barrier-Free Railway program. We are actively working to improve the rolling stock. In particular, all the electric trains we have modernized have ramps and other elements of inclusiveness. It was important for us to hear the opinions and suggestions of experts and find the best solutions that will form the basis for our technical requirements when ordering new and modernizing existing rolling stock," Ukrzaliznytsia’s head Yevhen Liaschenko said.
The participants in the meeting examined various options for the entrance unit for passengers with disabilities and other low-mobility groups.
The participants in the meeting declared the integration of electro-hydraulic lifts into future designs of long-distance passenger cars intended for transporting people with disabilities as one of the best solutions.
They will help passengers with limited mobility to climb from train platforms of any height onto railcars conveniently and safely.
"The insights gained at this meeting are an important step in the implementation of the Barrier-Free Railway program, and we will continue the joint work to implement new initiatives aimed at improving mobility and increasing passenger convenience," said Yarema Dul, a project manager at the Strategic Initiatives and Transformation Project Office at Ukrzaliznytsia’s Department of Strategy and Transformation.
