NMBS seeks volunteers on accessibility
The national rail authority NMBS is looking for volunteers to test its facilities for accessibility for the disabled. The 200 or so volunteers will act as “mystery shoppers” by using rail facilities and reporting back on how accessible they are.
Aside from determining how easy it is to get on and off trains, “we’ll also be looking into how easily they can ask for help by phone or online,” said spokesman Bart Crols. “We’ve already set up an anonymous test panel on communication with passengers on the train.”
Representatives for the disabled pointed out that, in many instances, help is not available. In just over half of the country’s 213 stations, staff are available to help the disabled on and off trains, but that help usually has to be ordered 24 hours in advance.
“In practice, that’s a big problem,” said the Flemish federation for the handicapped. “If as a wheelchair user you want to go to the seaside for the day, you have to decide 24 hours in advance when you’re going to go and also when you’re going to come back. If you don’t book your assistance, there’s no guarantee you’ll even [be able to] get on the train.”
