Equal opportunities group sues SNCB over poor accessibility

The Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Unia) is taking legal action against Belgian railway operator SNCB for what it describes as "poor" accessibility.

Specifically, Unia is demanding widespread deployment of access ramps for people with disabilities, saying such ramps are available in less than a third of stations.

Unia is championing the case of a traveller with reduced mobility who has suffered "constant stress" from the unpredictability of access to basic services they need as a wheelchair user for a smooth journey.

“Every time, you have to ask and negotiate,” the passenger said. “Some attendants agree, but others say they don't have the time, they're not trained for it or they're not insured. Sometimes I have to avoid taking the train to avoid all this stress.”

Unia said it had been asking SNCB for accommodations for this traveller and others like them for years.

People in wheelchairs can only board and disembark at certain stations offering an assistance service, subject to reservation, Unia said, adding that SNCB refuses to oblige its attendants to deploy these ramps, even if the train is equipped with them.

In such cases, passengers with reduced mobility risk being turned away by the attendant and are left on the platform.

According to Unia, this is a violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - and constitutes discrimination.

The group has already taken several legal actions to pressure public transport operators to improve the accessibility of their infrastructure and last year won a case alongside four wheelchair users against Flemish transport company De Lijn for violating the UN Convention.

Photo: Ward Vandael/Belga