The 50th PASSAGE (Passenger Accessibility Solutions Support and Action Group for Europe) meeting, was recently held in Rabat, Morocco, with technical visits to the Tanger and Casablanca stations taking place, where members of the PASSAGE group were warmly welcomed by colleagues from ONCF.
The meeting was chaired by Paola Negri, and opened by Marc Guigon, Director of the Passenger Department at UIC, who highlighted the possibility for organising a global conference focused on railway accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) and with additional needs.
ONCF presented updates on their accessible facilities, particularly the features onboard the Al Boraq High-Speed Train, and assisted services for PRMs, showcasing their commitment to making rail transport more inclusive. They also highlighted important ongoing projects, such as the extension of the high-speed line and new services aimed at enhancing urban mobility.
Regarding updates from UIC, two main surveys were discussed: the impact of training on employee self-efficacy in assisting PRMs, to improve the quality of assistance, and the Rail Sustainability Index Survey, which assesses the accessibility of rail transport.
A session on the PRM Assistance Booking Tool (PRM ABT) introduced a new website, which aims to provide more information on the matter to the general public, not just to businesses. Discussions also covered the PRM ABT tool’s adaptation for employees with visual impairments and new requirements from Eurostar regarding automatic email notifications.
The meeting addressed special arrangements for PRMs during major events, such as the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, updates on EU regulatory developments concerning the EU Disability Card, and new proposals for passenger rights in the context of multimodal journeys.
A roundtable discussion provided insight from representatives of RFI, Trenitalia, SNCF, RENFE, DSB, and Italo, on updates and new initiatives in their respective regions aimed at improving PRM assistance and accessibility.
Finally, a technical visit took place, and included stops at the call centre in Rabat, the Rabat Agdal station, the maintenance centre in Tangier, and the modern train station in Casablanca.
Overall, the PASSAGE meeting in Morocco was a testimony to the collective effort to advance accessibility and mobility for PRMs within the railway sector, reflecting a global commitment to a more inclusive and accessible future in rail transport.
The next PASSAGE meeting will be held in June 2024, and will be hosted by Comboios de Portugal (CP).
