Disabled group takes Swiss trains to Supreme Court
Leaving an FV-Dosto train in a wheelchair
Keystone
Switzerland’s umbrella organisation for disabled groups is taking the new double-decker trains to the Supreme Court, saying they are illegal.
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In November the Federal Administrative Court ruled that each new double-decker train (FV-Dosto) of the Swiss Federal Railways must have at least one wheelchair ramp and the ramp must also provide access to an area for wheelchairs and an accessible toilet.
On Thursday, Inclusion HandicapExternal link said people with a disability were legally guaranteed equal access, but November’s ruling meant this was not the case and currently many passengers could not use the trains independently.
As a result, the organisation said it had no option but to take the case to the Supreme Court. It pointed out that public transport must legally be obstacle-free for disabled people from 2023 but the FV-Dostos were set to run until 2060.
The trains, which came into full service on December 9, were designed so people with a disability can enter or leave from any door independently. However, when the trains entered a test phase, it was found that wheelchair users could not get in or out without assistance because the ramps were too steep.
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