Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport Accessibility Consultative Committee (ACC) 5 th September 2018 David Lane, Head of Operations and Lynda Maguire, Accessibility and Information Officer We would be glad to have your feedback/comments on our presentation today.
Current position regarding accessible vehicle fleet Below tables shows current Accessibility % by product and 12 month projection based on planned NTA PSO funding and BÉ Expressway funding, for 2018. End 2017 - current Accessible Fleet Product N Y Grand Total % Accessible PSO Urban 217 217 100% PSO Stage Carriage/ Commuter 66 254 320 79% Expressway 32 114 144 78% Grand Total 98 583 681 86% End 2018 - Projection Accessible Fleet Product N Y Grand Total % Accessible PSO Urban 235 235 100% PSO Stage Carriage/ Commuter 48 279 327 85% Expressway 12 134 146 92% Grand Total 60 648 708 92%
City / Town Services • All of the City and Town services operated by Bus Éireann have low floor wheelchair accessible buses and are 100% accessible. There is a designated wheelchair space on each bus and wheelchair access to the bus is by an integrated ramp. A wheelchair user has priority for use of this designated area at all times. One occupied Childs buggy or pushchair may be parked in this designated area when it is not occupied by a wheelchair. The fleet purchased in the last few years has a buggy space as well as a wheelchair space. Expressway / Regional Services • Wheelchair accessibility is available on a number of Bus Éireann coaches operating on Expressway and Regional services; however, the number of routes is limited due to constraints regarding accessible bus stops. The introduction of additional fully accessible routes is dependent on the provision of suitably accessible bus stops infrastructure. • Each wheelchair accessible coach has one wheelchair space, which must be booked 24 hours in advance using our reservation system. This can be done by contacting Bus Éireann Customer Care at 1850 836 611.
Currently we have wheelchair accessibility on the following coach routes Wheelchair Accessible Bus Stop at Route Number Route Description these locations only: Expressway Services Route X1 Dublin to Belfast Dublin Busáras; Dublin Airport, Newry Bus Centre and Belfast Europa Route X2A Dublin to Belfast via Dublin Airport Dublin Busáras; Dublin Airport, and Belfast Europa Route X4 Dublin to Waterford Dublin Busáras, Dublin Airport and Waterford Bus Station Route X5 Dublin to Newry Dublin Busáras, Dublin Airport and Newry Bus Centre Route X12 Dublin to Limerick Dublin Busáras, Dublin Airport and Limerick Route 20/X20 Dublin to Galway Dublin Busáras, Dublin Airport, Athlone and Galway Route 32 Dublin to Letterkenny Dublin Busáras; Dublin Airport, Lifford and Letterkenny Route 40 Waterford to Cork Waterford Bus Station, Dungarvan, Youghal, Killeagh, Castlemartyr and Cork Bus Station
Currently we have wheelchair accessibility on the following coach routes Inter Urban (PSO) Routes Route NX Navan to Dublin Navan Market Square; Beresford Place; Wilton Terrace and O’Connell Street Route 109A Navan to Dublin via Dublin Airport Navan (Market Sq.), Kells (Parochial House), Dublin Airport, and DCU Collins Ave Route 109/X Dublin to Cavan Dublin Busáras, Dunshaughlin (Bank of Ireland); Navan (Market Sq), Kells (Parochial House), Virginia (Pauline’s) and Cavan Bus Station. Route 109 Dublin to Kells Dublin Busáras, Dunshaughlin Bank of Ireland); Navan (Market Sq), Kells (Parochial House) Route 111 Trim to Dublin Trim and Dublin Busáras Route 430 Galway to Athlone Galway and Athlone Bus Stations Route 456 Galway - Ballina Galway and Ballina Bus Stations
Wheelchair Accessibility on Vehicles • On all our vehicles allow a floor space of 1,200mm (length) by 700mm (width) in which to accommodate a wheelchair. The wheelchair accessible coaches in the Bus Éireann fleet are fitted with either a hydraulic wheelchair lift or a ramp and all have a safe working load of 300kg. It is important to note that the weight to be lifted include the wheelchair, its occupant and any other baggage to be lifted. • In order to accommodate a wheelchair all coach types require the removal of up to 4 seats. This is not a task that can be carried out by the driver during the service for health and safety reasons and so the seats are removed at the local garage. As well as removing the seats, other equipment (ramp/ lift, floor tracking, restraint clamping system) required for ensuring the safety of the wheelchair passenger during their journey is pre-checked and verified to be present and in working order prior to departure. Our clamping/restraint mechanisms are designed for wheelchairs with marked/suitable restraint points for passenger safety.
Cont’d… • To ensure these checks are carried out and also to ensure a fully accessible coach is correctly allocated to the service required, it is necessary to have an advance booking system in place. Even if seats were permanently removed from the coaches, the other equipment would still need to be checked and verified to be present and in working order prior to the coach departing to collect the wheelchair passenger. • The reservation system requires any intending customer to complete the booking at least 24 hours in advance of his/her journey by contacting Bus Éireann customer care on 1850 836 611. In this way customers know if a wheelchair space is available and Bus Éireann can make the necessary arrangements to remove seats in order to accommodate the wheelchair on the vehicle. This reservation system is common practice across other EU countries. • At time of booking wheelchair passenger are advised to be at departure point 25 minutes prior to departure time. Services cannot be delayed/diverted to cater for a wheelchair passenger who does not present for the service on time. • Coaches are designed to operate on main national, regional and rural roads at higher speeds than city buses. For the safety of the wheelchair passenger and in compliance with EU and Irish Regulations, the wheelchair is required to be securely held in position by restraints connected into the floor of the coach.
Space Required for Wheelchair Accessible Coach with Lift to side Space 2m + 1m + 0.5m = 3.5M • 2m for Lift Extension • 1m for wheelchair to access lift • 0.5m for pavement access Design Template for Accessible Bus Stops finalised by QBN Office in 2009
Bus Stop Infrastructure • As mentioned earlier, the bus fleet that operates on City and Town services is 100% wheelchair accessible and does not require booking in advance. • Accessible single deck coaches commonly feature wheelchair lifts positioned either through the front entrance door, behind the front wheel or at the rear of the coach. The lift positioned behind the front wheel is the most common arrangement on the Bus Éireann fleet. • There are a number of infrastructure issues that need to be addressed in order for the side lift on the high floor coaches to be operated safely. We require a firm 3m square operating area at each bus stop where the lift is to be used. The lift itself extends 2m and 1m is required for wheelchair access. Without this clear operating area customers would encounter difficulties manoeuvring on and off the lift as they would be obstructed by walls etc. or forced to negotiate uneven ground and/or soft verges.
Highline Single Deck Coaches
Double Deck Coaches Kassel Kerbing is still required - angle of ramp for easier access
Accessible Bus Stops for the future • We are currently working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) regarding the bus stop infrastructure and to identify vehicle types best suited to the varying needs of all our customers while also suitable for roads and associated infrastructure. • We also continue to work closely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and local authorities regarding the design of new bus stop development, which will facilitate our customers being collected and delivered at these designated bus stops in a safe manner.
Powered Wheelchairs There can be some difficulties with powered wheelchairs regarding their weight, but also how far out the battery pack protrudes beyond the chair itself, which can make it difficult to secure with the supplied restraints which would be a major concern under health and safety on board our vehicles. Such details will be established with our new permit scheme. Mobility Scooters Mobility scooters are designed to provide outdoor mobility as an alternative to other forms of private and public transport. They are primarily designed to be used on pavements and roads and are not necessarily designed to be carried on public transport vehicles. As a result some mobility scooters can be large, heavy and/or difficult to manoeuvre, and may not be easily transported in all our vehicles. Consequently, it may not be possible to carry all mobility scooters based on health and safety reasons relating to their size, weight, fuel and restraint requirements. Mobility scooters can be carried on our city and town services only . Details will be established with our Assessment Certificate for Travel scheme. Due to coach type vehicles being limited to 100kph we are unable to carry Mobility Scooters on board due to the speed permitted and as it is not a city bus, (speed permitted 65Kph), a mobility scooter would be a dangerous unrestrained load and present a high risk.
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