Outcome of national meeting: Tactile ground surface indicators and access paths on railway platforms
This document was agreed at a meeting following from the temporary exemption in this area granted to Queensland Rail, by representatives of the Physical Disability Council of Australia, Blind Citizens Australia, HREOC, the National Transport Secretariat, and rail operators QR, State Rail Authority of NSW, and Victoria's Connex and National Express. The meeting was convened to progress issues of how to balance the need for installation of tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) for safety and direction finding for people with vision impairments, with needs for clear access paths.
Participants regarded the document as representing the existing effect of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport, taking into account the provisions regarding unjustifiable hardship and equivalent access.
Participants also agreed however that all parties concerned would benefit from the greatest degree of certainty that can be provided in this respect so that resources are spent achieving access rather than litigating about it.
Standards Australia has been asked to consider how the results of this work might be reflected in relevant Australian Standards.
HREOC also undertook to raise with Commonwealth Department of Transport and Attorney-General's Departments issues regarding incorporation of this work into the guidelines accompanying the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport, and further processes required to consider its incorporation into the substantive provisions of those standards .
In summary:
- All operators agreed on the importance of installing warning TGSIs at platform edges for safety.
- All participants agreed that while directional TGSIs provided a valuable means of providing wayfinding information, their use should be kept to a minimum to avoid unnecessarily adverse impacts on wheelchair users and ambulant passengers with disabilities.
- All participants agreed on a need for the greatest attainable degree of uniformity within systems and nationally in application of TGSIs so that users are given consistent meanings
- All participants agreed on a need for guidelines for colour contrast and for these to be reflected in relevant Australian Standards and the Disability Standards.
David Mason
Director Disability Rights policy HREOC
Access paths on railway station platforms when installing warning TSGIs on platform edges.
New platforms
New platforms must comply with the Transport Standards.
Existing stations and platforms
Existing stations and platforms must be brought into compliance with the Transport Standards to the maximum extent possible.
Fittings and fixtures (bins, seats, vending machines) must be relocated to the extent possible to achieve maximum compliance.
Requirements for warning TGSIs to be installed on platform edges may compromise clear access paths in some circumstances as indicated below.
Site constraints preventing fully compliant paths of travel
Clear access path width may be reduced from 1200mm to 1000mm where site constraints or fixed structures preclude full compliance. This includes new structures constructed within existing site constraints.
Existing platforms - exceptionally severe site constraints
Where an access path width of 1000mm cannot be achieved adjacent to the 600mm TGSI then compliance must be maximized by a range of options, which may include:
1. Equivalent access by maintaining an access path of 1000mm (min) to at least one side of an obstacle.
2. Providing an access path of 1000mm (min) to a designated boarding point and equivalent access to essential facilities on the platform.
Using platform edge warning TGSIs as part of the access path
Where 1000mm clear access path cannot be achieved by the options outlined above, warning TGSIs may form part of the access path (for example where power stanchions or other fixed structures on platforms need to be passed). The overlap of warning TGSIs and access paths must be minimized.
Information to passengers
Where stations do not have a clear access path width of 1000mm, operators
should provide passengers with information (including at stations and
through internet sites and other appropriate information methods) detailing
access features provided.