Barrier-free train stations: Although the legal period has expired, railways do not carry out barrier-free transformations on time

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By the end of 2023, railway companies must structurally adapt all railway stops to the requirements of the Disability Equality Act 2004 (BehiG). Last year it was already foreseeable that the deadline would not be met.

The status report published by the Federal Office for Transport (BAV) on Thursday clearly shows how far implementation has progressed: by the end of 2022, 992 out of approximately 1,800 Swiss train stations had been converted in accordance with the law. According to BAV, 106 more train stations will be added by the end of 2023.

This means that only 60 percent of the stations have been adapted. By the end of 2023, approximately 80 percent of all disabled people will be able to travel independently and spontaneously by train, as major railway stations are adapted on a priority basis.

At 499 train stations, despite BAV’s repeated interventions, adjustments can only be implemented after the legal period expires. From the federal government’s perspective, the responsibility for this clearly lies with the railroads.

This is how SBB & Co justifies themselves.

Blick asked the station operators. SBB will be able to travel step-free at 463 train stations by the end of 2023. After 2023, structural changes of 271 train stations will be made. 30 train stations will not be converted. “Structural solutions there are only possible at a disproportionately large financial outlay,” says SBB. Conversion of non-compliant stations is expected to continue until the mid-2030s.

At BLS, 85 of 115 train stations and stops have been converted; The 9 BLS train station has only been made partially barrier-free despite renovations. Of the remaining stations, 23 will not be rebuilt or will only be partially rebuilt.

104 stations in RhB have been made BehiG compatible. Later, 18 stations will be rebuilt. At 38 RhB stations, conversion is not required due to exceptions in the law.

All transport companies surveyed emphasize the large investments already made and the proposed bridging measures at stations that have not yet been adapted. Delays are attributed to the complexity of the projects, building objections or dependency on other construction projects. BAV cites “lack of resources for planning and staff, lack of timeframe for construction work and limited financial resources.”

Disabled organizations are not satisfied

Inclusion Handicap is less than enthusiastic about the situation. “The right to self-determination is not respected,” the umbrella organization for disability organizations in Switzerland told Blick.

Bridging measures are “better than nothing” but are no substitute for full accessibility. The cost argument for delay doesn’t hold either: “If the costs had been better distributed over 20 years, they wouldn’t suddenly be focusing on the end of the deadline.” To this end, measures for the barrier-free design of railway stations have been fully financed since 2019 from the railway infrastructure fund and therefore by the federal government.

The association demands that BAV fulfill its function as a supervisory authority in the future more consistently than before.

Source :Blick