As of: February 21, 2024, 9:51 a.m
By: Julia Hanigk
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Press
Split
A lot has happened in recent years for inclusive travel.
Nevertheless, that is not enough: almost 20 percent of German train stations are not barrier-free.
Munich – Vacations for people with disabilities are still difficult to plan.
For example, the accessibility of Bavaria by 2023 that Horst Seehofer promised a good ten years ago has not yet materialized.
One of the biggest hurdles for disabled travelers is the lack of reliable information: Which facilities, public places and means of transport are barrier-free and how accessible?
A representative study therefore examined accessibility at train stations in Europe.
While the Netherlands is doing particularly well, Germany still has room for improvement.
Study tests train stations and tracks across Europe for accessibility
Unfortunately, accessibility is not yet as self-evident everywhere as it should be.
Means of transport and train stations in particular play a central role in self-determined mobility and thus an inclusive society.
In December 2023, a study commissioned by Omio, a metasearch engine and booking platform for transport connections, was dedicated to the current status of accessibility at train stations in Europe.
Some German train stations are still not barrier-free.
(Symbolic photo) © R. Rebmann/blickwinkel/IMAGO
Studies with data from Deutsche Bahn
Visual travel information, the infrastructural conditions and measures on how people with disabilities can access departure platforms barrier-free, as well as the availability of a guide for the blind and visual orientation aids were examined.
Data from various reports, studies and publicly available sources from each country were used.
For Germany, the study used data on the accessibility of all Deutsche Bahn train stations, which was available on the official website.
The website is currently offline.
Since almost all German train stations are operated by the DB, this is a representative study.
Only one in five train stations is barrier-free - Germany still comes in second place
The study comes to the conclusion that in Germany only 81 percent of train stations and 87 percent of platforms are barrier-free.
Conversely, this means that around one in five train stations is not accessible to people with disabilities.
Loud
Omio, Deutsche Bahn has announced that it will take further measures to close this gap.
According to DB, around 100 stations and 150 platforms are adapted every year.
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In an international comparison, Germany does great overall and comes in second place behind the Netherlands.
The visual markings on platforms are particularly commendable at 98 percent, such as current travel information on digital display boards.
A full 97 percent of train stations and tracks in Germany also have a guidance system for the blind.
The study results at a glance.
© PR Omio
The Netherlands as the inclusive leader, the Czech Republic as the bottom
The Netherlands achieved particularly positive results for barrier-free stations and tracks.
A full 97 percent are barrier-free accessible.
According to the study, 99 percent of train stations in the Netherlands are equipped with visual orientation aids and 99 percent are also equipped with guidance for the blind.
However, the greatest need for improvement is in the Czech Republic.
A tour for the blind is a matter of luck at 50 percent, barrier-free infrastructure at 20 percent is more the exception than the rule.
At 60 percent, more than half of all train stations have visual orientation aids.
(jh)