In this blog entry we initially highlight two designs from newer trains where the access design for ramps for people dependent on wheelchairs and also ramp-operators railway-staff could be improved significantly.
The trains are:
Reference
- old rolling stock train types: Class 313, 315, and 317
New trains British Rail Class 379 "Electrostar"
The new Class 379 Electrostar initially introduced on the Stansted Express to and from London and Cambridge services, and recently also started to be used between London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Kings Lynn.
Continuing on from the more considered holistic design seen in the British Rail Class 365 train design discussed below, the Class 379 "Electrostar" has had significant considerations with regard to accessibility in its' design.
However, the ramps fixing attachments to the train are protruding spikes (several inches long) perpendicular from the end of the ramp.
It seems an accident waiting to happen. Either to staff trying to help wheelchair dependent passengers on or off a train, or a wheelchair users, or anybody else on the platform at all.
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New British Rail Class 365 "Networker Express"
This was the new rolling stock of trains that was introduced by the then WAGN Train Operating Company on the Kings Cross to Cambridge line in 1994. This line include stations King's Cross to Cambridge and on to King's Lynn.
The Class 365 was also used on King's Cross to Peterborough and return lines.
The Class 365 was a significant improvement in accessibility, in that this had actually been though of positively during the design of it.
The Class 365 trains had wider iles in the carriage. Just wide enough for a wheelchair to pass if there was a 'must' situation. A carriage specifically for wheelchairs had also be designed and was on every train. It was the train carriage that had the toilet. The toilet had also been designed to allow access for wheelchairs.
The number of seats had been reduced in all carriages to allow more space a comfort for all passengers.
All these improvements were massive enhancement over what had been before.
The intent was outstanding and in our opinion should be hugely applauded.
Some details that probably could have been completed somewhat better, however, if a little more consideration and customer-r&d had been done.
The nearly more than twice as wide door opening, which was also a significant reason for reduced number of seats, also meant it was now very difficult for the fitter active wheelchair user to reach to the side of the doors as is a practical must if he or she was to get himself or herself in our out of the carriage.
I.e., by good intent the design had reduced abilities of a significant proportion of wheelchair users.
The other design feature of the Class 365 train was that the door opening now had a small step. The step was not deep enough for anybody to stand or step on, it was simply a halfway protruding lower extension that if considered from a sideways profile would give a quite nice gentler graduation of now two steps to push/pull a pram, a shopping cart, or a wheelchair up or down.
Again very admirable design intent.
The problem with it is that the extra (halfway) step, that is not deep enough to step or balance on, made the distance from the platform to the carriage floor that much further, that a shorter wheelbase wheelchair that is desirable by all wheelchair users as it makes the turning circle of the wheelchair smaller and therefore the chair more manoeuvrable, no longer could bridge the distance from the platform to the carriage floor.
I.e., again by good intent, the design had reduced abilities of an even greater proportion of wheelchair users.
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Old trains types Class 313, Class 315, Class 317
The more extreme wheelchair and fit sports wheelchair users could get themselves on and off the by an extreme backwheel balance and then pull themselves up into the train carrigage by pulling on the handles at the sides of the quite narrow doorway.
Once inside, however, the wheelchair user would have to stay in the intrance gangway, as the opening to the seated areas of the the train compartment was too narrow for a wheelchair to enter. (Nor was there any room for the wheelchair inside the carriage.)
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