Amtrak on Monday put out a call for feedback on what the train operator calls “the accessibility of long-distance trains.” In a press release issued on Monday, the company said it is “committed to procuring a modern fleet to operate on its Long Distance route network that will improve the rider experience for customers with mobility disabilities.”
In-person and virtual methods are available for submitting feedback.
Amtrak has scheduled a public meeting for Wednesday, August 30 from 10:00am to 2:00pm Eastern time. The event will be held at Washington DC’s Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Registration for the meeting is open until August 25, while virtual registration is open until the day-of on the 30th. In addition to the in-person meeting, Amtrak is also accepting written feedback beginning today through September 7.
“As we develop plans for procuring and deploying new rail equipment for overnight train service on our Long Distance network, Amtrak is committed to enhancing and improving the customer experience for customers with disabilities, including customers who use wheeled mobility devices,” Amtrak wrote on its webpage in announcing the public hearing. “Many of today’s regulatory standards that define accessible rail cars do not provide a truly accessible journey. To ensure that all customers have equal access to the unique experiences offered by our Long Distance services, we need to re-imagine what is possible. Community engagement will play a critical role in this process.”
Amtrak also noted new train designs and technologies “offer opportunities to deliver a better and more accessible experience to customers with mobility disabilities. Strict compliance with existing regulations hinder some of these new alternatives.” After collecting the community’s feedback, Amtrak said it intends to file a request with the Federal Railroad Administration for permission to “use alternative design standards that provide equal or better accessibility.” The process is known as “equivalent facilitation,” according to Amtrak.
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