Accessibility in Iarnrod ireann Designated Accessibility Officer - - PDF document

Iarnrod Éireann Irish Rail improving the experience for Customers with Disabilities Head of Customer Experience

Accessibility in Iarnrod Éireann

 Designated Accessibility Officer – Paul Slowey  Accessibility User Group Meeting 3-4 times a year The Disability User group has representatives from the following bodies:  Irish Wheelchair Association  Deaf Hear  Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind  National Council for Blind Ireland  Central Remedial Clinic  Independent People with Disabilities  National Disability Authority  Centre for Independent Living  Headway Ireland

Disability Review DART

Behavior and Attitudes undertook research with the major stakeholders



Irish Wheelchair Association



National Council for the Blind



Irish Guide dogs for the Blind



National Transport Authority



Independent People with Disabilities.



Two accessibility users, one visually impaired and one mobility impaired

The following changes were implemented on the 29th January

• 1. 24 hours’ notice reduced to 4 hours.
• 2. Hub stations set up with direct contact with station and mobile phone as back up.
• 3. Disability users can now register details and needs to get all the information

required.

• 4. Improving station signage program commenced.
• 5. Advertisement campaign for both general public and users.
• 6. Accessibility Users group briefed throughout process.

Iarnrod Éireann Irish Rail improving the experience for Customers with Disabilities Head of Customer Experience

DART Assistance – 29th January – 20 May

Hub Stations Number of assists Fall down in service Fall Down % Disability User didn’t arrive Bray 786 2 0.25% 4 Dalkey 417 Dun Laoghaire 903 2 Blackrock 399 1 Sandymount 732 Pearse 430 Tara St 195 Connolly 2294 3 0.13% 14 Killester 430 1 0.23% 4 Raheny 202 1 Howth Jct 21 Howth 164 1 Malahide 276 1 0.36% 1 Totals 7249 7 0.09% 28

Iarnrod Éireann Irish Rail improving the experience for Customers with Disabilities Head of Customer Experience

Accessibility Projects 2018

Route Stations Works Stage Scope summary Dublin- Sligo Edgeworthstown Construction Widen access pathways, upgrade access gates/doors Edgeworthstown Planning Submit planning application for a new footbridge and lifts. Longford Construction Automate access doors. Works to access pathways Dromod Construction Works to access pathways, upgrade access gates/doors Carrick-On- Shannon Construction Widen access pathways, Boyle Construction Works to access pathways, upgrade access gates/doors Ballymote Construction New access ramp, Works to remove drainage channel Collooney Construction upgrade access gates/doors Sligo Construction Amend access ramp, Mark pedestrian routes. Dublin-Wexford Arklow Construction Resurface platform areas to make

• accessible. upgrade access gates/doors

Gorey Construction upgrade access gates/doors Enniscorthy Construction Protective fencing/railings. Wexford Construction upgrade access gates/doors, drop kerbs Rosslare Strand Construction New automated door, drop kerbs Rosslare Europort Construction Drop kerbing & resurfacing Mallow-Tralee Rathmore Construction Upgrade access gates/doors. Widen access path. Banteer Construction upgrade access gates/doors, Resurfacing Millstreet Construction upgrade access doors, Works to night gate Killarney Construction Resurfacing Farranfore Construction Amend access ramp, upgrade access gates/doors Tralee Construction upgrade access gates/doors & widen access pathway

Iarnrod Éireann Irish Rail improving the experience for Customers with Disabilities Head of Customer Experience

Athlone- Westport/Ballina Roscommon Construction Widen footpaths outside station and provide drop kerbs. Re-surfacing to road and footpaths. New automated doors. Castlerea Construction Widen footpaths outside station and provide drop kerbs. Re-surfacing to road and footpaths. New automated doors. New ramp to DOWN side platform. Ballyhaunis Construction Amend access ramp and resurface local access road, drop kerbs. Claremorris Construction Resurfacing Manulla Jct Construction Resurfacing Foxford Construction Upgrade access gates/doors. Ballina Construction Upgrade access gates/doors. Drop kerbs Westport Construction Amend access ramp and Upgrade access gates/doors. Dublin- Maynooth Castleknock Detailed design Complete detailed design for new footbridge and lifts and also ramp access from the Castleknock road Limerick-Ennis Ennis Detailed design Complete detailed design for new footbridge and lifts

Iarnrod Éireann Irish Rail improving the experience for Customers with Disabilities Head of Customer Experience

Continue to Improve Experience for Disability Customers

Lifts out of Order Lifts out of order notice on Passenger Information System at station will be reinstated next

• week. This will give Customers requiring accessibility assistance advance notice of any issues

with lifts so they can make a decision to go to an alternative station. Accessibility App Innovative Pilot Project to enable new process and address most key issues. Like a taxi hailing app for DART users with Disabilities. This would address some of the key communication breakdowns that occur currently with staff often caught assisting the general public within their general duties and genuinely forgetting that there is a Customer waiting for assistance. Vision impaired and mobility impaired users experience high levels of anxiety when planning

• n taking a rail journey. Some users who have experienced issues in the past, do not have

confidence in the system and know that human error can impact the current process. This anxiety can be partially mitigated through the use of technology that will allow them prebook a journey that confirms there will be station staff assistance at their departure and arrival station and provides support in the event of an emergency. The funding source has to be agreed with the National Transport Authority Lift Call Mobility Project System in operation which closes the lift off and Customers have to call lift which goes to monitored CCTV room. This has reduced vandalism issues at Howth Junction and Clongriffin following introduction.

Benefits

• Remote access into lift cars to view a lift entrapment situation
• Controlling access into the lifts for passengers who require the service most
• Visual monitoring of lifts 24/7 during normal and in emergency situations
• Remote fault & alarm status of lifts in service, updated to IE Customer website for passenger

journey planning

• Higher availability of lift services for accessibility Customers who require this asset to

complete unaided journeys to/from Stations

14 stations to be progressed through this project if funding is secured. Staff On-board Intercity Services  Plan to have staff on all intercity services.