They have or are planning to introduce some kind of wifi system whereby
cellphone users can connect to the station network to access the up to date
train status. If my memory is correct, it's introduced in Bangalur. I don't
know about the actual user experience, but given the increasing acccesibility
of wifi/bluetooth enabled devices, such move should be encouraged in such
accesibility related policy proposals.
Vetri.
--------
I am in India at the moment - my cell: +919486123815.
--------
Sent from Nokia N97 mini via BSNL internet using "talks", a screen reader for
S60 phones. ....
-original message-
Subject: [AI] Meeting tomorrow - pls input. Fwd: Rail car accessibility - rough
cut. Pls input.
From: Vaishnavi Jayakumar <jayakumar.vaishn...@gmail.com>
Date: 02/13/2012 9:38 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vaishnavi Jayakumar <vaishnavi.jayaku...@inclusiveindia.info>
Date: 10 February 2012 17:58
Subject: Rail car accessibility - rough cut. Pls input.
To: accessiblechennaimetro <accessiblechennaime...@googlegroups.com>
*Identification Each passenger rail car that can accommodate a wheelchair
should be
identified by the international symbol of access placed on the outside of
both sides of the passenger rail car by the entrance.
Signage Signage provided on a passenger rail car to aid passengers should
satisfy
the criteria set out below.
(a) Signage should be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare.
(b) Letters, numbers, symbols and pictographs should be glare-free and
presented in contrasting colours ("Contrasting colours" means a light
colour on a dark background or a dark colour on a light background,
with light on dark being preferable for signage.).
(c) Letters and numbers should be sans serif, and numbers should be
Arabic. Letters and numbers should have at least a width-to-height
ratio between 3:5 and 1:1 and a stroke-width-to-height ratio between
1:5 and 1:10.
(d) Each sign must include a tactile pictogram, raised lettering and
braille text using one-piece zinc/bronze metal signs with (screwholes /
high-performance 3M adhesives) and chemical etching that is durable and
vandal-proof.. When tactile signage or markers are used, letters, numbers,
symbols and pictographs should be raised at least 0.8 mm and should be
between 16 mm and 50 mm high. If a tactile sign is mounted on a wall, its
centre should be at a height of 1500 mm plus or minus 25 mm above the floor.
(e) When signage is supplemented with braille, it should be located at the
bottom of the sign and presented in English Standard Braille Grade - II /
Bharati Braille in local language /
(f) If electronic signage is used, letters, numbers, symbols and
pictographs should be slowly scrolled across the screen. Red letters on a
black background should not be used.
Lighting Lighting on a passenger rail car, except reading and other
lighting under the control of a passenger, should be directed and
controlled so as not to create glare or shadows.
Lighting should not result in any sharp contrasts in intensity throughout a
passenger rail car, but should be used to accentuate stairs and their
handrails or grab bars.
Stairs Stairs on a passenger rail car should have uniform, closed riser
heights and uniform tread depths, and a first step up (a last step down) of
a height that does not exceed the uniform riser height.The tread surfaces
of the stairs should be firm and non-slippery and should not create glare.
The top outer edge of each step should be marked by a contrasting colour
strip that runs the full width of the step and is readily apparent from
both directions of travel.
Handrails or grab bars should be provided on both sides.
If structural limitations of a passenger rail car prevent any of the above
criteria concerning uniform heights and depths, first (last) step,
handrails or grab bars from being satisfied, a rail carrier should provide
assistance, if requested, to a person with a disability in ascending and
descending the stairs.
In addition, if the criterion concerning the first (last) step cannot
besatisfied, a rail carrier should provide a step box. This step box should
be sturdy and have a tread surface that is firm and non-slippery and does
not create glare. It should also have its top outer edge marked by a
contrasting colour strip that runs the full width of the box and is readily
apparent from
both directions of travel.
Handrails and Grab BarsHandrails and grab bars on a passenger rail car
should be sturdy and of a height and length that permit use by a person in
a wheelchair.
Handrails and grab bars should be rounded and free of any sharp or abrasive
element. They should have an exterior diameter and a clearance from the
wall surface to which they are attached that permit easy grasping.
They should not have any obstructions that could break a handhold.
Handrails and grab bars should be colour contrasted from their surrounding
area or marked with a contrasting colour strip that runs the full length of
the handrail or grab bar.
Handrails and grab bars should also return to a wall or floor in a smooth
curve.
FloorsFloor surfaces on and between passenger rail cars should be
slip-resistant.
Glare from floor surfaces should be reduced as far as practicable.
If carpeting is used on a passenger rail car, it should be securely
attached.
It should have a short pile and a firm underpad or no underpad at all.
DoorwaysRail cars should have doorways that are wide enough to permit a
person in a personal wheelchair to access the tie-down.
If structural limitations of an existing coach car with a wheelchair
tie-down prevent this criterion from being satisfied, the rail car should
at least have doorways that are wide enough to permit a person using an
on-board wheelchair to access the car.
Emergency Window Exits Emergency window exits on a passenger rail car
should be clearly identified by a contrasting colour strip around the
perimeter of the window and a tactile sign.
Seats with Floor Space to Accommodate a Service Animal
Each passenger rail car (other than a sleeping car) should have a number of
passenger seats that each provides enough floor space for a service animal
("Service animal" means an animal that is required by a person with a
disability for assistance and is certified, in writing, as having been
trained to assist a person with a disability by a professional service
animal institution.) to lie down. This seating should be designated by
signage for use by persons with disabilities.
Tactile Seat Markers Tactile markers to indicate row numbers should be
placed on passenger aisle seats in coach cars. If these seats can rotate,
the tactile marker should be placed on both sides of the seat.
Armrests At least 10 per cent of the aisle armrests on the passenger aisle
seats in the car should be movable. If possible, the passenger seats with
movable aisle armrests should be evenly distributed throughout that coach
car. This seating should be designated by signage for use by
persons with disabilities.
Wheelchair Tie-down
Each passenger train should have at least one wheelchair tie-down.
This tie-down should be in a coach car that satisfies the accessibility
criteria set out earlier.
The location of the wheelchair tie-down should permit easy access to the
wheelchair-accessible doorways and washroom if present.
Storage Space for Personal WheelchairsA passenger train with only one
wheelchair tie-down should have priority
storage space on the train for one other personal wheelchair.
On-board Wheelchairs Provided by Carriers Each passenger train should be
equipped at all times with at least one on-board wheelchair provided by the
rail carrier. The on-board wheelchair should have a design that permits
easy transfer of an occupant and easy manoeuvring of the chair with
assistance in and between the passenger rail cars. It should have
footrests, armrests that are movable or removable, an occupant restraint
device and wheel locks.
Means to Communicate Announcements
If a rail carrier makes announcements to passengers, such as announcements
concerning stops, delays, schedule changes, connections, on-board services
and claiming of baggage, the carrier should have the means within the
passenger rail car of visually and verbally providing these announcements
to persons with disabilities.
AlarmsIf a passenger rail car is equipped with an alarm system, the system
should be visual and audible and, when activated, display continuously.
Visual alarms should be placed, timed and synchronised so as to avoid
triggering seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Public Liaison Whenever a significant improvement is made to the
accessibility of any passenger service in a rail carrier's network, the
carrier should prepare a statement to announce the change and should send
it to both print and electronic media, and to organizations of and for
persons with disabilities in the communities served by the train service.
MaintenanceRail carriers should have procedures in place to ensure that all
existing passenger rail car accessibility features are maintained in good
working order. These procedures should be updated as new accessibility
features are introduced and rechecked pre and post any other design
modifications.*
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