Brussels, 24/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - European rail infrastructure managers (EIM) have set the tone on making rail transport more easily accessible for people with reduced mobility. With the Commission working on the review of technical specifications for interoperability (TSI) to make the rail network accessible to all, the EIM set out its viewpoint on 24 July.
While infrastructure managers are ready to work with all parties to overcome the barriers that prevent people with reduced mobility from using trains, they also expect more support from public authorities. The EIM argues that member states should establish national programmes to improve access to transport services, and provide an appropriate budget. This necessarily would involve better coordination of policies at local level especially. That would mean, for example, that sufficient numbers of parking places are provided around stations. To upgrade trains and stations so that people with reduced mobility have easy access, the EIM says that joint European funding is needed to back up national investment.
The EIM also floats the idea of a biennial conference on rail accessibility, so that progress can be monitored on a member state by member state basis and also to allow constructive dialogue among European representatives and the handicapped. (MD/transl.rt)