City metro passenger setting new standards of accessibility for all

Transportes Metropolitanos de Barcelona used the 2021 renewal of its vehicle fleet to improve the accessibility of its underground train service. Measures include wider automatic doors, acoustic warning lights, intercom located at an optimum height for wheelchair users, emergency handles, and colour contrast signage.

Transportes Metropolitanos (TMB) de Barcelona is the main public transport operator in Barcelona and the province of Catalunya. In 2021, TMB renewed its train fleet and used this opportunity to introduce new passenger cars that are highly accessible for travellers with various needs, among them the communication system NaviLens, emergency measures useable for wheelchair users, and all warning messages in acoustic and visual formats. By 2027 only this kind of passenger cars will be in use.

Problems Targeted

Public transportation is often inaccessible for persons with disabilities, and often only covering some additional needs.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

In 2021, TMB incorporated new vehicles into its fleet and introduced major accessibility improvements for passengers with disabilities. Features include wider automatic doors, acoustic warning lights, intercom located at an optimum height for wheelchair users, emergency handles, and colour contrast signage. Two notable developments are the arrangement of two spaces reserved for wheelchairs, scooters, and child carriages and the onboard NaviLens system – a navigation and labelling app specially designed for blind and partially sighted users. TMB has also improved the accessibility of its bus fleet by including features such as visual and audible stop warnings, and signs in Braille and colour contrast. TMB works closely with ALSTOM, the French manufacturing company, which has implemented all the improvements proposed by TMB. The new acquisitions meet all the criteria stipulated for UNE 170001 Universal Accessibility Certification.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The financing of TMB’s accessibility is different in the metro area than in the bus area. New works related to vertical accessibility systems are financed by the Departamento de Política Territorial y Obras Públicas, whereas TMB finances stair maintenance, routing, and platform expansion works with its own budgets. TMB has an annual budget of EUR 360,000 for accessibility improvements. Different departments invest part of their own budget for singular projects, for example: the cost of implementing the NaviLens system in Metro and Bus networks was EUR 575,000. The Metropolitan Transport Authority plans to make a significant financial effort to purchase 95 new trains by 2026 and refurbish 107 trains in the current fleet by 2027 while incorporating accessibility standards.

Pictures

A glimpse into the new train cars of the Barcelona metro

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