Bridging the Gap: Automated ramps for inclusive commuting

Work by the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (now part of NTRO) and La Trobe University on the Railway station platform gap solutions effectivenes has been completed, and a final report of the project is available for download below.

Background

Getting on and off a train should be easy for everyone. Everyone. But as it stands right now, gaps between the railway platform and trains introduce some difficulty in these acts, particularly so for many people with disabilities.

One solution is the use of automated ramps, providing unassisted access to trains.

They can bridge the height and depth and even accommodate stopping inaccuracies of trains.

The current solution, a manual ramp, works but is not ideal. One-third of people questioned for this project commented that something regularly goes wrong.

There’s not enough room on the ramp (not wide enough), so I need help to steer. It’s also far too steep an incline and I never feel safe. There are “mini steps”/”ledges” to get on the ramp to get off the train, so I have to go backwards, which makes everything way worse!

Importantly, many people with a disability that use a manual ramp struggle with their sense of independence.

For this project three working prototype ramps were tested, which were, not surprisingly, received well by people with disability.

When you get off, people are actually pressuring you to get out of the train, it is actually quite nerve wrecking.

Research participant, RofRaus trial, 2022

Video: Bridging the Gap: Automated Ramps for Inclusive Commuting

Objectives

The aims of the project were to:

• understand the impact of inaccessibility of the Australian rail network for people with disabilities;
• evaluate the Australian gap standards against the international gap standards such as those in the USA and Europe;
• evaluate the effectiveness of different gap solutions such as automated ramps, automated platforms and platform gap fillers used in Australia and around the world; and
• test of a modular, automatic ramp that can be placed permanently on the platform (or train carriage) and only rise and/or extend when needed.

Automated solutions

What if a platform ramp could:

• be automatic
• be adjusted for depth and height of the gap
• accommodate for stopping inaccuracies of the train by adjusting its position or by being modular?

For this project three automated solutions were trialled:

• Modtas
• Rofraus A-MAR
• Rofraus D-MAR

Images of each of the three are in the final report, Railway station platform gap solutions (available below).

Participants in the trial reported that if these automated ramps were implemented, they would make significant use of trains. In percentage terms, if in use, 79% would make train trips more than once a week, compared to 28% in which a manual ramp was in use.

Positive feedback also in the spread of motivations in choosing travel by train. As either something they would do more of, or something new, respondents would travel for reasons of:

• Events
• Appointments
• Social visits
• Work commute
• Travel for relaxation

Conclusions and next steps

Unassisted access to trains using automated ramps would solve a major accessibility issue for a wide group of people with disability.

What is needed is an assessment of existing ramp prototypes in an operational environment:

1. Safety
2. Operational efficiency
3. Reliability

Expected project impacts

I wish to congratulate La Trobe University and its project partners on the Railway Station Platform Gap Solutions research report. I was drawn to the evidence presented on the experiences of people with disability when utilising public transport and found the chapter comparing Australian to international standards to be of particular interest.

As you are aware, the Commission has statutory functions under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to monitor the operation of Disability Standards, such as the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Cth) (DSAPT). Your report will be a useful source of evidence in informing the Commission’s continued advocacy for greater compliance with, and future improvements to be made to, the DSAPT.

Australian Human Rights Commission

NTRO was proud to be a partner in this collaborative research project. The enthusiasm of the trail participants strongly suggests these automated ramps would greatly improve public transport accessibility and independence for many people with a disability.

Paul Benett, Senior Professional, Network Operations,Transport Advisory Services, NTRO

The findings are clear – automated ramps are a game changer. We have two, now three eager entrepreneurs ready to test their prototype. Who will have the courage to invest in a trial?

Erik van Vulpen, Deputy Director, Centre for Technology Infusion, La Trobe University

Download final report

Work on this study was completed in late 2022.

Download your copy of the final report, Railway station platform gap solutions, by clicking the button below.