Tuesday, May 19, 2015

EasyJet launches Esaag Charter for Disabled passengers


Europe welcomes easyjet’s esaag Charter for disabled passengers

Wednesday, 22 April 2015 08:40 Written by George Sensalis

The launch of easyJet’s special assistance advisory group Pan-European Charter on Meeting the Needs of Disabled Air Travellers at an event in the EU Parliament on Tuesday was welcomed by policymakers and associations alike.

The Charter is based on lessons learned from the work of the easyJet’s special assistance advisory group, which consists of external experts on access to air travel for disabled people and easyJet representatives. The document contains recommendations for airlines, airports, and policymakers on how to make travelling for PRM passengers easier and more consistent between countries and airports.

Chaired by former UK Labour MP David Blunkett, esaag advises easyjet on the needs of passengers requiring special assistance since 2012. Reduced Mobility Rights director Roberto Castiglioni is a member of esaag and chair the Airport Experience sub-group.

The group was established by easyJet to provide the airline with strategic advice and practical guidance on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance, reviewing, challenging and improving easyJet’s policies and procedures.

“Knowledge of air travel rights is crucial to smoother journeys”, David Blunkett said at the start of the event. “While the legislation David Blunkett speaking at the event in the European Parliamenthas raised awareness, many passengers are not fully informed on their rights and responsibilities,” he added. “This charter should provide a useful and succinct guide to best practice. We call on all parties involved to improve information-sharing, particularly regarding who is responsible at each stage of the passenger journey.”

"Accessibility for all is an issue for which public support continues to grow. However, we know that in the field of transport, passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility continue to face significant barriers, be these physical or logistical," Labour MEP Lucy Anderson, host of the event and member of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee said. "Evidence indicates that the approach taken by national enforcement bodies on PRM passenger rights when travelling by air varies widely and it is important that this issue remains high on both the Commission’s and Member States’ agendas.”

Jean Louis Colson, Head of Passenger Rights Unit at the European Commission congratulated esaag for writing the Charter on meeting the needs of disabled air travellers. He was echoed by Federico Bonaudi, Facilitation Manager at Airport Council International (ACI Europe).




South Western Railway sets out funds for Access improvements at 32 Railway Stations

SWR to spend Rs. 11.76 cr on passenger amenities: DRM
Mysuru, May 16, 2015, dhns:

Ramps for disabled, expansion of platforms planned

South Western Railway (SWR), Mysuru, will spend Rs 11.76 crore on the improvement of basic amenities for passengers at various stations of the division during the year 2015-16.

Addressing media here on Friday, Divisional Railway Manager, SWR, Mysuru division, Rajkumar Lal, said that of the total amount, Rs two crore will be set aside to provide facilties for differently abled passengers, by constructing standard ramps at 32 railway stations of the division.

The platforms in Mysuru city railway station is also expected to see improvement during the year, as it has been planned to extend platforms two and three, followed by the shelter at platforms four and five.

The division will spend Rs 1.67 crore on Arsikere railway station, which includes works to improve platform surface and to extend platform shelter, followed by Shivamogga town railway station, where there has been an increase in passenger density, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.57 crore. Apart from the two railway stations, minor works on platform shelters will be taken up at 18 stations, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.19 crore, he said.

As a measure to reduce power usage, poles with Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) lamps, will be installed in platform and circulating area of stations, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.04 crore, followed by Rs 1.62 crore on extending platforms at 30 stations, to accomodate the longest trains at the station.

Funds have also been set aside to construct retiring rooms at Subramanya ( Rs 12 lakh), raising and extending platform at Haveri (Rs 62.91 lakh), provision of additional seating arrangements at stations (Rs 52 lakh) and construction of platform toilets at 17 stations (Rs 65 lakh).

Augmentation

Noting that augmentation of composition of trains has been done in trains such as Nizamuddin Swarnajayanthi weekly express, Mysuru-Chennai Shatabdi express, Shivamogga Town-Bengaluru express, Lal said that proposals have been sent to zonal headquarters to augment other important trains.

To increase capacity in reserved segment, two sleeper coaches each in Basava express to Bagalkot, Golgumbaz express to Solapur, Hampi express to Hubli, Mayiladuthurai express, Tuticorin express and Tirupathi fast passenger have been proposed.

Apart from it, there is a proposal to add one sleeper and A/C 3-tier in Cauvery express to Chennai, one A/C 3-tier and 2 sleeper coaches in Sharavati and Chalukya express; one sleeper in Howrah weekly express, one A/C 3-tier each in Karwar express and Ajmer bi-weekly express, said Lal.

There are also proposals to increase the number of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) in the division, by installing them at various stations of the division, he said.

Source: Deccan Herald