Follow-up question: inventory of accessibility infrastructure on the railways

Subject: Follow-up question: inventory of accessibility infrastructure on the railways

In March 2021, the Commission adopted its disability rights strategy for 2021-2030.

Included in this was a projected inventory of railway infrastructure facilities by 2022, the purpose being to identify not only the accessible parts of railway stations but also the remaining obstacles and barriers to accessibility.

In its answer dated 13 September 2022 (E-002187/2022(ASW)1) the Commission stated that the project had been delayed because of a change of contractor and would be delivered in 2023.

1. Is the inventory now available?

2. How will the Commission encourage Member States to remove existing obstacles as soon as possible?

Submitted:26.3.2024

1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-002187-ASW_EN.html.

Answer given by Ms Vălean on behalf of the European Commission

(12 June 2024)

The Inventory of Asset database is not yet available. The EU Agency for Railways finalises the work, the delay is due to migration of all Agency registers to the cloud.

The delivery to owners of assets and data collecting entities is expected by the end of 2024, who then will populate the system with the relevant station information. Further developments are foreseen in a second phase, that will enable third party developers to create new, user-friendly applications.

The Commission issues enforceable requirements by way of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability regarding the accessibility of stations and trains for passengers with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities (PRM TSI (2)).

The Commission advises Member States (3) and station managers to improve accessibility when carrying out routine works and remain engaged with stakeholders to remove obstacles.

Moreover, the Commission cooperates with representatives of the rail sector and organisations representing passengers, persons with disabilities or persons with reduced mobility within the Rail PRM Advisory Body and the Disability Platfor m (4) launched in 2021.

While accessing and moving around in coaches and in stations has improved due to the increasing implementation of the TSI PRM, challenges regarding accessibility still persist pending the Europe-wide full implementation of the TSI PRM.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-002187-ASW_EN.html.

2 ∙ ⸱ Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 of 18 November 2014 on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to accessibility of the Union's

rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility OJ L 356, 12.12.2014, p. 110. 3 ∙ ⸱ National implementation plans — Persons with reduced mobility — PRM TSI NIP https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-modes/rail/interoperability- safety/interoperability/persons-reduced-mobility-prm-tsi-nip_en 4 ∙ ⸱

The new Disability Platform https://www.epr.eu/the-new-disability-platform/#:~:text=The%20Disability%20Platform%20is%20an%20initiative%20of %20the,good%20practices%2C%20and%20reflect%20the%20diversity%20of%20disability