Chamber calls for swift action to make public transport more accessible for people with disabilities

The House of Representatives believes the Cabinet should do more to make public transport accessible to people with disabilities. For this target group, access to public transport is even more difficult at the moment due to the lack of staff, including NS. Trains are overcrowded or not running, which means rail travel is not easy for the disabled. “There is a gang in NS,” said De Hoop, MP for PvdA.

“There’s really a difference between attending and staying at home,” said MP Werner of the CDA. “What is the story of people with disabilities who want to use public transport to join work, friends, theater, society?”

Yesterday, Minister of State for Infrastructure Heijnen reached an agreement with public transport companies and national and regional politicians. This agreement aims to make public transport more accessible to people with disabilities by 2040. Travel information should be clearer, stops and platforms should be more accessible, and assistance should be provided.

aging peak

This is not going fast enough for Parliament. In a discussion with Heijnen, lawmakers insisted on short-term solutions. Agema from PVV explained that since he took office in 2006, studies on public transport accessibility have been made and the problem is getting worse. “Has the Secretary of State considered the peak of aging of the population and people with reduced mobility?” According to Agema, full availability “mustard after dinner” by 2040.

D66 MP Van Ginneken insisted on short-term creative solutions. Heijnen said he would discuss this with public transport companies. At the same time, the foreign minister said it would take until 2040 to become fully accessible. He admitted it took a long time, but noted steps that were already being taken, such as travel assistance on every platform and a stand-alone toilet on every train.