[Press Release] Four more train stations to benefit from mobility-impaired facilities

Victor

Note that some modernised stations, e.g. Portmarnock (ramps too steep) are not to an acceptable standard.

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/general_news.asp?action=view&news_id=15

Four more stations to benefit from mobility-impaired facilities investment by Press Office

Iarnród Éireann has announced an investment of €2.3 million for mobility-impaired facilities at Cork, Longford, Athy and Laytown Stations, the latest phase of a national programme to improve access across the rail network.

The investment, which will improve access through lift or ramp facilities in the station follows the completion of works at seven other stations over the last 20 months.

In addition, as part of Iarnród Éireann’s €170 million DART and Suburban Enhancement (DASH) project – designed to boost DART capacity for commuters by 33% by 2005 – all DART stations currently partly or wholly inaccessible will be upgraded to be fully accessible.

The works at the four latest stations to benefit encompasses:

- Cork: the current ramped subway’s steepness causes difficulties. New passenger lift cars will be provided, replacing existing commercial lifts, and renovation of the current lift shafts. This will better link the two platforms via the existing subway

- Longford: Currently, only platform 1 at Longford Station is accessible. A new lift shaft with integral lift car is to be constructed, linking the public overbridge to platform 2.

- Athy: New ramp connecting to existing council overbridge will provide access to platform 2.

- Laytown: New bridge with integrated lifts will ensure full access

Over the last 20 months, Skerries, Balbriggan, Portlaoise, Portarlington, Athlone, Templemore and Portmarnock Stations have all benefited from similar investment.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said “it is critical that we ensure all of our customers can benefit from the investment programme across the rail network, and our accessibility programme helps us to ensure this. Whilst many of our stations are accessible, because of underinvestment of the past we have an infrastructure that in many locations is largely unchanged from when it was designed in the 19th century, when accessibility was not considered . It will take us time and money to transform the network, but it is a task to which we are committed.”

“Every major investment we have under taken over recent years has ensured that accessibility has been provided for, be it in stations, in new trains, even in technology. An example of this is our DASH programme – whilst extending platforms and improving power supply to allow longer DART trains operate to boost capacity,we will improve access at all stations where currently there are restrictions and limitations, including brand new stations at locations such as Howth Junction and Bayside.”

Iarnród Éireann’s Access Liaison Office, set up in 1995, liaises with representative groups to ensure the needs of mobility and sensory impaired customers are incorporated into new projects.

Mobility-impaired customers do not just encompass wheelchair users, but other customers including those with temporary mobility difficulties, the elderly, those with buggies, or carrying shopping.

Other major investments which have improved accessibility in recent years have included:

- All major carriage orders have encompassed enhanced accessibility features including 64 railcar carriages, 38 new DART carriages, Belfast Enterprise fleet, and the forthcoming order of 80 commuter railcars (currently being phased into service), 40 DART carriages and 67 InterCity carriages

- All new stations, and all refurbished stations have incorporated improved access, including Connolly and Heuston, and new stations such as Drumcondra, Clontarf Road, Grand Canal Dock and Monasterevin. Following consultation with representative groups, improved tactile markings on platforms and appropriate colour contrast on platforms, in stations and on trains have been incorporated into our designs

- Our technology has been developed to ensure the needs of mobility-impaired and sensory-impaired customers are taken into account, including audio-visual displays on trains, a voice reader website for visually impaired, and induction loops at booking offices for hearing impaired.

Victor

Seems overly optimistic.

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/2330597?view=Eircomnet

Report finds improvements in disabled transport access
From:ireland.com
Sunday, 11th January, 2004

A report has found significant progress has been made in the last four years in making transport accessible to disabled people.

The National Disability Authority (NDA) report on transport access found that all of Bus Eireann's urban fleet had low floor access for the disabled, while 40 per cent of the Dublin Bus fleet had low floors.

The report also welcomed the investment made by Iarnród Éireann to make its services accessible. It predicts that by 2005, all stations on the DART line will be fully accessible and the new Luas service will have disabled access on all of its carriages from the day of its launch.

However, the report notes that a large part of the existing rail transport network requires substantial investment to make it accessible. It says this is imperative as it will be some years before accessible long-distance coaches will be introduced.

The NDA welcomes the establishment of the Commission on Taxi Regulation, who will have a key role to play in improving access to taxis.

The report calls on the Department of Transport to ensure that transport legislation, regulation and licensing contain requirements to ensure accessibility for people with Disabilities.

"The Government must give a firm commitment to continue priority investment in accessible transport infrastructure and the establishment of a single travel information source for people with disabilities," said Ms Angela Kerins, Chairperson of the National Disability Authority.