Disabled group takes Swiss trains to Supreme Court
Switzerland’s umbrella organisation for disabled groups is taking the new double-decker trains to the Supreme Court, saying they are illegal.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ts
In November the Federal Administrative Court ruled that each new double-decker train (FV-Dosto) of the Swiss Federal Railways must have at least one wheelchair ramp and the ramp must also provide access to an area for wheelchairs and an accessible toilet.
On Thursday, Inclusion HandicapExternal link said people with a disability were legally guaranteed equal access, but November’s ruling meant this was not the case and currently many passengers could not use the trains independently.
As a result, the organisation said it had no option but to take the case to the Supreme Court. It pointed out that public transport must legally be obstacle-free for disabled people from 2023 but the FV-Dostos were set to run until 2060.
The trains, which came into full service on December 9, were designed so people with a disability can enter or leave from any door independently. However, when the trains entered a test phase, it was found that wheelchair users could not get in or out without assistance because the ramps were too steep.
More
More
Partial ruling in train accessibility case
This content was published on
Swiss Federal Railways will be temporarily allowed to use six of its new double-decker trains, following a suspension due to a legal challenge.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
This content was published on
On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Hundreds of train stations to be modernised
This content was published on
Around 580 train stations across Switzerland will be modernised by the end of 2023 and made more accessible for people with disabilities.
Swiss train stations to implement new anti-smoking rules
This content was published on
Following a test phase, Swiss train stations will proceed with a plan to restrict smoking to a maximum of two designated smoking zones per platform.
Swiss train passengers to surf internet for free from 2019
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railways will begin introducing free internet surfing based on 3G/4G mobile coverage on trains by the end of next year.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.