Annual report Aiming at equality
The accessibility of the services and equality were highlighted in the responsibility survey conducted among VR Group's stakeholders.
From the perspective of equality, it is important that persons with reduced mobility are also able to travel by train.
Nearly all railway lines in Finland have train services that provides services for disabled people. Most of the rolling stock used in express trains and commuter services have low floors, wheelchair ramps or lifts, wheelchair spaces and disabled accessible toilets.
In addition to ensuring that legal provisions are complied with, the wishes of passengers with disabilities are also a consideration when new rolling stock is designed and old cars modernised. Most of the wishes could be incorporated in the design of the disabled accessible cabins on the new double-deck sleeping cars.
Assistant service will continue
Last summer, VR was criticised for terminating the assistant service for passengers with restricted mobility at stations where ticket offices were closed. It was decided to continue the service based on the Railway Liability Decree and it is currently offered at 36 stations.
Not all long-distance restaurant cars are accessible for wheelchair passengers. However, from last autumn alcoholic beverages have also been served at wheelchair spaces. The refurbished restaurant cars of the Pendolino trains will also have a space for wheelchair passengers.
