The European Commission has approved A Technical Specification for Interoperability (‘TSI’) relating to ‘persons with reduced mobility’. The TSI shall be fully applicable to the trans-European conventional rail system and the trans-European high-speed rail system. The official decision was publsihed in the Official Journal (OJ) of the Eropean Union on 7th March 2008.

The objective of this TSI is to enhance the accessibility of rail transport to the persons with reduced mobility. This includes the accessibility of the public areas of the Infrastructure (including stations) controlled by the Railway Undertaking, Infrastructure Manager or Station Manager. Particular attention is to be devoted to:

• The problems generated by the interface platform-train which require an holistic perspective between Infrastructure Rolling Stock.
• The needs for evacuation in the case of hazardous situations.

This TSI does not specify operating rules for evacuation, but only technical and professional qualification requirements. Purpose of technical requirements is to facilitate evacuation for all.

Full details of the Commission's decision to enhance the accessibility of rail transport to the persons with reduced mobility is availabe in the OJ.