Accessible railway platforms are an important part of modern railway infrastructure. Accessibility for all passenger categories, including people with reduced mobility (PRM), is one of basic and mandatory requirements for new and reconstructed European railway infrastructure. According to the results of the research conducted within the framework of the Visegrád Group (cultural and political alliance of four Central European nations – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, that are members of the European Union) in 2015, the existing railway platforms and passenger information systems represent serious barriers for PRM passengers (especially for people in wheelchair, with crutches, with baby prams, as well as for blind and visually impaired passengers). This paper deals with design requirements for railway platforms from the aspect of accessibility, tactile walking surface indicators and acoustic information for blind and visually impaired passengers. Paper analyses legal framework and shows examples of practical application of accessibility standards in Czech Republic and the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, it provides concrete recommendations for barrier-free design of railway platform

Lazarević, Luka

Matuška, Jaroslav

Popović, Zdenka

English

 GraFar - Repository of the Faculty of Civil Engineering

 1 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Civil Engineering. Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 73, Belgrade, Serbia, 
zdenka@grf.bg.ac.rs 
2 University of Pardubice, Faculty of Transport Engineering. Studentská 95, Pardubice 2, Czech Republic. 
Jaroslav.Matuska@upce.cz 
3 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Civil Engineering. Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 73, Belgrade, Serbia. 
lazarevic@grf.bg.ac.rs 
69 
ACCESSIBLE RAILWAY PLATFORMS – CZECH AND SERBIAN 
DESIGN EXPERIENCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Zdenka POPOVIĆ 1 
Jaroslav MATUŠKA 2 
Luka LAZAREVIĆ 3 
Abstract – Accessible railway platforms are an important part of modern railway infrastructure. 
Accessibility for all passenger categories, including people with reduced mobility (PRM), is one of 
basic and mandatory requirements for new and reconstructed European railway infrastructure. 
According to the results of the research conducted within the framework of the Visegrád Group 
(cultural and political alliance of four Central European nations – Czech Republic, Hungary, 
Poland and Slovakia, that are members of the European Union) in 2015, the existing railway 
platforms and passenger information systems represent serious barriers for PRM passengers 
(especially for people in wheelchair, with crutches, with baby prams, as well as for blind and 
visually impaired passengers). This paper deals with design requirements for railway platforms 
from the aspect of accessibility, tactile walking surface indicators and acoustic information for 
blind and visually impaired passengers. Paper analyses legal framework and shows examples of 
practical application of accessibility standards in Czech Republic and the Republic of Serbia. 
Furthermore, it provides concrete recommendations for barrier-free design of railway platforms. 
Keywords – accessibility, railway, platform, design, persons with reduced mobility. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Mobility is an essential need and a legal right in 
modern European society. According to PRM TSI [1], 
the functional and technical requirements for the 
infrastructure subsystem related to accessibility for 
persons with disabilities and persons with reduced 
mobility are: platform width, edges of platforms, end 
of platforms, and boarding aids stored on platforms. 
In addition, necessary conditions for a comfortable 
and safe access for all passenger categories to the 
railway platforms (Figure 1) are: parking facilities, 
obstacle-free routes, doors, entrances and floor 
surfaces, highlighting of transparent obstacles, toilet 
facilities, furniture and free-standing devices, 
ticketing, information desks and assistance points, 
lighting, visual (printed or dynamic) information, 
spoken information, and level track crossings. 
Railway infrastructure, which is adapted to the needs 
of passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, 
accelerates the flow and increases the safety of all 
passenger categories. 
 
Fig.1. Structure of passenger flow on the platform  
 
This paper deals with design requirements, which 
are a legal obligation, experience and 
recommendations for: a) accessible railway platforms, 
b) tactile walking surface indicators, and c) acoustic 
information for blind and visually impaired 
passengers in Czech Republic and the Republic of 
Serbia.  
2. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 
In the Czech Republic, the first Decree defining 
mandatory requirements for accessible environment for 
wheelchair users and visually impaired people entered 
RAILCON ’18                       ACCESSIBLE RAILWAY PLATFORMS – CZECH AND SERBIAN DESIGN… 
70 
into force in 1994 [2] indicating parameters for civil 
facilities, and also traffic structures (railway platforms, 
public transport stops, etc.). It was the first time the 
definition of a person with reduced mobility and 
orientation appeared. Its two amendments [3, 4] 
gradually specified requirements and completed 
necessary parameters. To design particular modifications 
of traffic structures, the Decree [4] refers to relevant 
national standards ČSN, e.g. [5, 6], or other relevant 
regulations. 
The legal right of all passengers to unobstructed 
access to transportation in the Republic of Serbia is 
stated in the Prevention of Discrimination of People 
with Disabilities Act (passed by the National 
Parliament on April 17th 2006). Nevertheless, this Act 
was preceded by Regulations on conditions for 
planning and the design of buildings for unobstructed 
access of children, the elderly, the handicapped and 
the disabled in 1997, which defined technical 
conditions for planning and designing pavements, 
footpaths, pedestrian crossings, parking places, public 
transport stops and access to buildings. 
The Planning and Construction Act passed in 2006 
[7] introduced new standards of accessibility in the 
form of mandatory technical measures, standards and 
conditions of design, planning and construction, 
which ensure unobstructed movement for people with 
disabilities, children and the elderly. 
The technical regulation [8] prescribes in more 
detail the standards that define the obligatory 
technical measures and conditions for the planning, 
design and construction of facilities, which ensure the 
smooth movement and access for persons with 
disabilities, children and the elderly. 
2.1 Railway platforms in the Czech Republic - 
Regulations and design 
Nowadays the requirements for accessible 
platforms in the Czech Republic are laid down in the 
following regulations: 
− Decree 398/2009 which defines general 
requirements for railway platform accessibility 
for visually impaired and wheelchair users, 
− ČSN 73 4959 is a technical standard specifying 
design parameters of platforms:  height of the 
platform edge (preferably 550 mm above the rail 
head surface), tactile modification of paved 
surfaces and minimum safe distance for 
obstacles from the edge of the platform; 
− Internal regulation SŽDC Ž 8.7 of the 
infrastructure manager (SŽDC) defines detailed 
modifications of platforms (using schemes), 
which applies especially for visually impaired 
people. This regulation, reflecting TSI PRM 
requirements, is most frequently used by 
designers for platform shaping; 
− TSI PRM – is a legal obligation in Czech 
Republic as an EU member country. It adjusts 
parameters of railway infrastructure (platforms, 
departure halls and access paths), information 
systems and carriages. Design parameters of 
platforms for wheelchair users are mostly 
identical to those in the previously stated 
national regulations. Tactile ground surface 
indicators on platforms are rather different; 
− Graphic user manual of the information system, 
which serves as the internal regulation of the 
infrastructure manager SŽDC, specifies e.g. 
some parameters of information systems for 
passengers including their modifications for 
visually impaired passengers [9]. 
On the Czech railway network, there are three 
types of platforms (Table 1): 
− 200 - 250 mm above the rail head surface. These 
are so-called earth-filled embankments, which 
represent platforms without solid edges. They 
appear in small stations on regional railway 
lines; 
− 380 mm above the rail head surface. These are 
platforms with solid edges, which are introduced 
in 2009 according to TSI PR. This height is 
allowed only under specified conditions, thus is 
rarely found on Czech railway network; 
− 550 mm above the rail head surface. These are 
island platforms, with the access across the 
tracks and also side platforms. The platform 
height corresponds to the floor level in low-floor 
railway coaches (550 ± 20 mm). 
Tab. 1. Railway platforms on CZ railway network 
Type of 
platform 
Edge 
height 
[mm] 
Railway line 
category 
Share 
[%] 
Earth filled 
 
200-250 regional 66.9 
Raised 
platform 
380 regional 15.1 
Island 
platform 
550 national or 
regional 
17.5 
Tactile adjustments for visually impaired can be 
used only on island platforms, platforms with the 
access across the rails and also side platforms where it 
is possible to lead the visually impaired person within 
safe distance from the platform edge. SUDOP panels 
used for island platforms or side platforms are 1450 
mm or 2300 mm wide. Figure 2 (left) shows position 
of SUDOP panels on supporting structures (U 65, U 
85, U 95, height corresponds to platform edge up to 
300 mm, 500 and 550 mm).  
Figure 2 (right) demonstrates tactile adjustment for 
visually impaired people – tactile ground surface 
indicator (with the turn to the stairs), which is laid 800 
>   550 0.5
XVIII International Scientific-expert Conference on Railways                            Serbia, Niš, October 11-12, 2018 
71 
mm from the platform edge with carved grooves and 
total width 400 mm, accompanied by 150 mm wide 
yellow signal line. The grooves, which are cut into the 
paved surface of the platform, enable smooth use for 
visually impaired people with a white stick. They do 
not represent an obstacle for other passengers (small 
children, people with walking difficulties, etc.). At the 
point of the turn (e.g. to the stairs) the tactile ground 
surface indicator is interrupted in the length of 400 
mm with the link to the signal line (800 mm wide with 
dots). Tactile ground surface indicator leads the 
visually impaired people to the wall and then along 
the wall to the stairs. 
 
Fig.2. SUDOP type platform (left) and tactile ground 
surface (right)  
Recently, the SUDOP platform edge has been often 
replaced by the H type construction (Figure 3) 
consisting of prefabricated parts with standard height 
(550 mm), without the side lap to the rail yard (unlike 
SUDOP panels – Figure 1a). Its disadvantage is that it 
is necessary to pave all the area of the platform and 
put together tactile elements (tactile ground surface 
indicator, signal lines, etc.). 
 
Fig.3. H type platform  
2.1 Railway platforms in the Republic of Serbia 
- Regulations and design 
According to INF TSI, designed height of the 
platforms is 550 mm on new and reconstructed 
railway stations on Corridor X through the Republic 
of Serbia, as well as in the Belgrade railway junction. 
Unfortunately, on the existing infrastructure 
(including the Belgrade Railway junction), the most 
platforms do not comply with the prescribed 
accessibility requirements (Figure 4 shows gap of 40 
cm). On the other hand, Figure 5 shows good 
compliance of the platform height and vehicle floor 
level in Belgrade Center station. Unfortunately, the 
platform surface is slippery and there is no surface 
guiding for blind and visually impaired passengers. 
 
Fig.4. The unsafe gap in the Vukov Spomenik railway 
station in downtown Belgrade 
 
Fig.5. Comfortable and safe access to the platform 
(platform height 550 mm) from the vehicle 
3. ACOUSTIC INFORMATION FOR 
VISUALLY IMPAIRED 
The Czech Republic is one of the European 
countries, which introduced acoustic information 
system. System TYFLOSET® was developed 
between 1993 and 1994, enabling orientation of 
visually impaired people on boards of transport means 
and public buildings (station halls of Prague 
underground railway, departure halls of railway 
stations, etc.). This system consists of a command 
transmitter (radio set), command receiver with 
antenna and voice software. These acoustic devices 
for visually impaired passengers are placed on railway 
platforms and in departure halls. They inform these 
people about their position or other details. The 
system is based on transmitted signal (requirement) 
from the passenger’s radio.  For example, the device 
above the entrance in the departure hall in Pardubice 
Main Station transmits following information: initial 
sound * (informs about the level entrance) followed 
by voice information ‘Pardubice Main Station’. On 
the platform, the system informs about the number of 
platform, name of the station and the way from the 
platform to the departure/arrival hall: initial sound ** 
(informs passengers about stairs in their direction) 
followed by audio information ‘towards the departure 
hall - down the stairs then to the right’. The same 
system is used to inform the passenger how to get to 
the platform from the departure hall. 
For blind and visually impaired passengers, the 
Serbian Railways print the timetables and installs the 
timetable panels with Braille tactile writing system. 
RAILCON ’18                       ACCESSIBLE RAILWAY PLATFORMS – CZECH AND SERBIAN DESIGN… 
72 
4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
Based on surveys conducted in member countries 
of Visegrád Group, accessibility of railway platforms 
is one of the crucial aspects when deciding whether to 
use railway transport [10]. Information itself and 
information systems proved to be of key importance 
for visually impaired people [11]. The authors 
recommend that a similar survey should be carried out 
in Balkan countries and based on results focus on 
systematic modifications of the core elements of 
railway infrastructure (platform halls, access paths) 
and information systems. 
In 2012, the survey about requirements of long-
distance passengers was conducted in the Republic of 
Serbia [12-14]. The results clearly indicate an 
uncompetitiveness of rail transport in this area, which is 
the result of lacks in infrastructure and related services 
for passengers with reduced mobility in Serbia (Figure 
6).  
 
Fig.6. Frequency of travels by different modes  
of transport regarding the mobility of passengers  
The authors also recommend improvements in 
accessibility of railway platforms and other parts of 
public transport for visually impaired passengers by 
installing acoustic information systems. Higher electivity 
of installation and utilisation of acoustic systems is 
necessary. Many years of Czech experience can serve 
and help this purpose. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
This work was supported by the Ministry of 
Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia 
through the research project No. 36012: “Research of 
technical-technological, staff and organizational 
capacity of Serbian Railways, from the viewpoint of 
current and future European Union requirements”. 
REFERENCES 
[1] European Commission: Technical specifications for 
interoperability relating to accessibility of the Union's 
rail system for persons with disabilities and persons 
with reduced mobility, Official Journal of the European 
Union L 356/110, 2014. 
[2] Vyhláška č. 174/1994 Sb., kterou se stanoví obecné 
technické požadavky zabezpečující užívání staveb 
osobami s omezenou schopností pohybu a orientace 
(Regulation about general technical requirements for 
building usage by people with reduced mobility), 1994. 
[3] Vyhláška č. 369/2001 Sb., o obecných technických 
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[5] ČSN 73 6425-1 Autobusové, trolejbusové a tramvajové 
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Navrhování zastávek (Bus, trolleybus and tramway lines 
halts, Part 1 - Halts design), 2017. (in Czech) 
[6] ČSN 73 4959 Nástupiště a nástupištní přístřešky na 
dráhách celostátních, regionálních a vlečkách (Platforms 
and roofs of platforms of main, regional and industrial 
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[7] Zakon o planiranju i izgradnji (Planning and 
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[8] Pravilnik o tehničkim standardima planiranja, 
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