Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 December 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 30 December 2016. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 December 2016 on behalf of the Department for Transport.
Railway Stations: Wheelchairs
- Question
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the platform height restrictions set by the European Rail Agency on disabled passengers in wheelchairs; and whether they have any plans to vary these height restrictions.
- Answer
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The current European Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI) for Infrastructure allows platform heights of 550 mm or 760 mm above rail level. However, the UK currently has a national technical rule which includes a ‘specific case’ allowing platform heights of 915 mm, reflecting the historic platform height on the majority of our existing network.
We are considering the issue of optimum platform heights to assist persons with reduced mobility and other passengers boarding trains. We have proposed to the European Commission an amendment to the current TSI to allow higher platform heights as a means to achieve level boarding between platforms and trains. These discussions are still ongoing.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- HL4153
- Session
- 2016-17
- Related items
- Subjects
- EU law Railway stations Wheelchairs
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2018-09-27 12:06:43 +0100
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- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/lords/2016-17/HL4153
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