On 24 and 25 June, the 54th UIC Accessibility Group of Experts (PASSAGE) meeting took place in Bratislava, Slovakia. PASSAGE is a group that has been operating for over a decade, holding three meetings annually with members from over 30 different companies. This was the second meeting of 2025.
The event opened with a warm welcome from the chair, Paola Negri from Trenitalia. This was followed by a presentation from the hosts – colleagues from the Railway Company of Slovakia (ZSSK) – who introduced the railway sector in Slovakia and gave an overview of the company’s latest developments. Martin Kroulík, Head of Recruitment and HR Development at ZSSK, detailed a new training programme aimed at rail employees who interact with passengers with disabilities and/or reduced mobility.
During the round table discussion, the members shared recent accessibility updates from their respective companies. One of the key topics discussed was the implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which came into force on 28 June 2025. Members shared their experiences of applying the act at a national level, as well as the challenges they had faced.
A technical visit gave participants the opportunity to explore Bratislava hlavná stanica, the city’s central station, as well as take a train to Trenčín station (around 95 km from Bratislava). The group travelled on a Stadler train and was given a guided tour of its accessibility features. One of the six carriages is designed for passengers with disabilities and/or reduced mobility and includes:
- Two spacious wheelchair areas, accommodating all wheelchair types
- A universal toilet
- A manual boarding ramp operated by ZSSK staff for passengers with reduced mobility
- A tactile and audio navigation system for passengers with visual impairments
The navigation system operates via handheld devices with numbered buttons (one to nine), supplied by the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (UNSS). When the user presses a button, a sound signal is emitted from the train, assisting them in locating the doors and navigating the carriage. ZSSK ensures that up-to-date information is uploaded to support this system across all new trains.
The meeting reaffirmed PASSAGE’s commitment to improving accessibility and mobility for all, reflecting the broader goal of creating a more inclusive and accessible future for rail transport.
The next PASSAGE meeting is scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, hosted by Lithuanian Railways (LTG) Link.
For further information, please follow this link: https://uic.org/projects/article/passage
