On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, the UIC Africa Region hosted a webinar on the theme “Catering for people with reduced mobility (PRM) in the railway ecosystem: issues and challenges”. This session was part of the annual Africa Railway Thursday webinars programme, with 170 participants attending the webinar from all over the continent.
In the opening address, delivered on behalf of Mohamed Rabie Khlie, Chair of UIC Africa, his representative emphasised the urgent need for equitable and sustainable accessibility in Africa and to overcome obstacles through the mobilisation of all stakeholders. He noted the importance of including accessibility in national and regional mobility policies, introducing harmonised African standards inspired by universal design, involving people with reduced mobility (PRMs) from the project design phase onwards, and mobilising donors to prioritise accessibility in funding criteria.
In his speech, UIC Director General François Davenne emphasised that the UIC Passenger Accessibility Solutions Support and Action (PASSAGE) Group of Experts serves as a key reference point for railway accessibility in European railways, with their objectives being to foster and maintain professional exchanges among the railways, identifying necessary actions at both national and transnational levels, and proposing potential solutions to address accessibility challenges. The importance of accessibility and UIC’s role was underscored through five key pillars: Enhancing Inclusivity, Improving Customer Experience, Meeting Legal Obligations, Boosting Ridership, and Fostering Innovation.
A keynote speech on driving railway accessibility forward through collaborative exchange was given by Vanessa Perez, UIC Senior Advisor, and was followed by presentations from the railway networks of the National Railways of France (SNCF), Trains of Portugal (CP), the Moroccan National Railways (ONCF), the South African Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), and the Senegalese Transport Network Operating Company (SENTER).
These shared experiences showcased a wide range of solutions and practices implemented in railway stations, onboard trains, and in terms of equipment and passenger assistance. While no one-size-fits-all solution emerged, the importance of drawing inspiration from these examples – while adapting them to each country’s unique context and characteristics – was strongly emphasised.
For African rail networks, leveraging these insights is essential to overcoming the numerous technical, financial, institutional, and cultural barriers. Doing so will be crucial to modernizing and reinforcing existing accessibility and inclusion frameworks across the continent.
