Seven out of ten stations do not meet accessibility travelers with a disability

Throughout Flanders, 73 train stations meet the four criteria to be ‘autonomously accessible’: platforms of 76 cm high, a slope or elevator to each platform, conductor lines for visually impaired people and a ticket machine with an assistance button. At a total of 254 stations that is only 29 percent. This is apparent from a question from ahead MP Niels Tas to the Minister of Mobility, Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés).

The relationships are the same in the five provinces. There are large stations in between such as Antwerp-Berchem, Gent-Sint-Pieters, Hasselt and Aarschot. According to the NMBS, renovations are busy in various large stations or are planned, which must lead to better accessibility. Vooruit calls that backlog « unacceptable » and asks through its minister of equal opportunities, Rob Beenders, to draw up a clear plan. The party not only asks to focus on the large stations, but also the little one.

Paralympian

Earlier, the Court of Appeal in Brussels sentenced the NMBS after a complaint from Paralympian Francis Rombouts, who has to take the train out of Tielen every day. According to the court, the railway company has violated the Anti -Discrimination Act because the station is not accessible enough, and must make the necessary adjustments.

Read too. Paralympian Francis Rombouts complained the NMBS because he did not get to his training, now the judge agrees: « I can now show: look at me »

The NMBS investment plan provides that by 2032 176 stations are ‘autonomous accessible’ in the whole of Belgium-good for three-quarters of the travelers. The counter was 116 at the end of last year. (PL, FEM)