The Belgian national railway company SNCB, presented the first of 130 new train cars, which have been described as the first autonomously accessible in the history of the country’s transport.
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The autonomously accessible cars have a door with a boarding height of 76 centimeters, the standard height of the new platforms. Before the door opens, a sliding step fills the space between the platform and the train, allowing travelers with reduced mobility to board and disembark independently and safely.
Inside the car too, required modifications have been made to ensure the safety and comfort of travelers.
For example, the doors have a wider opening, handles have been added and the door opening buttons have been placed lower. The cars are also equipped with adapted toilets and an intercom system allowing wheelchair users to request help if necessary.
The development of the autonomously accessible car also called on the expertise of interest groups such as the National High Council for Disabled People, CAWaB and Unia. They were consulted, visited a model of the project and made concrete recommendations, the most important of which were integrated. ​
SNCB ordered the 130 autonomously accessible cars in December 2020 from Alstom, which has committed to delivering these, as well as all other M7 cars, from the second half of this year and by the end of 2026. Each M7 train will then be equipped with at least one of these cars.
In Belgium, the M7 double-decker train is the first type of train to have an autonomous access car. Equipment that SNCB will systematically integrate into all new types of trains that it acquires in the future.
In addition to trains, stations must also be adapted accordingly. Since last year and until 2032, SNCB will invest several billion € in the renovation of stations and trains, with the aim of also improving accessibility in depth.
Currently, 103 stations are fully accessible. By the end of 2032, there should be 176 of them, mainly the stations which welcome nearly 70% of boarding passengers.
A station is fully accessible as long as it has a ramp or an elevator at each platform.
The platforms must also be 76 centimeters high and the station must be equipped with guide lines for visually impaired people and at least one accessible vending machine.
In this context, new sales machines will also be installed from 2026. They will notably be equipped with an assistance button allowing travelers to immediately contact an SNCB employee who will be able to take control of the remote device.
These new trains are necessary to allow SNCB to decommission older equipment.
The fact that Alstom is currently 2.5 years late in delivery means that SNCB will have to use these older trains, which are more susceptible to breakdowns, for longer than expected. In the meantime, around half of the cars are in service, with the remainder expected to be delivered by Alstom by the end of 2026.
Furthermore, the M7 car is equipped with the European ETCS safety system, which continuously calculates the speed and automatically brakes or stops the train if necessary.
Each M7 train will include at least one self-access car, as well as a multi-purpose car that can accommodate bicycles and strollers. Each M7 train will thus be able to accommodate at least 16 bicycles.
In addition, the new double-decker trains better meet travelers' expectations in terms of comfort. The interior is contemporary, there is more legroom and more electrical outlets, and in each car, screens offer travelers real-time information on the route.