And things have changed in 15 years. When our station was rebuilt in '95, before it's inclusion on the historic registry, the handicapped ramp was put in the front. Now that the building is on the registry, the latest round of grants put the ramp in the back because it affected the historic fabric of the building. The ramp goes up on the deck (it can no longer be considered a platform) which wraps around the entire building. And our doors are very wide like old buildings used to be. We also do not have to modify any doors to be compliant.

Later!
Mr. Ed

a wheelchair and a Powerchair are two different things, in most cases we can work with the wheelchair but not the powerchair.
Dave

In general, ADA regulations require you to allow Medically required equipment... both wheel chairs, and powered wheel chairs would be considered medically required. Electric scooters and power chairs prescribed by a Dr. and eligible to be paid with medical insurance and medicare would be considered protected...

Segway scooters are not listed as medical devices so are not protected even if someone is using it as a mobility device.

The rules about ADA compliance are complicated and change over time.

Logistics aren't difficult or rocket science. Our Canadian brothers build a very fine manually operated lift platform capable of handling a power chair, manual chair or scooter. Manual lifts don't have to have a mechanical interlock with the train brake system like powered lifts do, which saves a lot of hassle (might have changed since I last worked on this). Lifts that raise a chair to floor level platform height are probably also available - but I never bought one, so have no recommendation. Ramps are generally long and somewhat intrusive, but you may be able to find a way to fit one in.

Yes, you need a loading door that is wide enough to accomodate a chair, and area for wheelchairs on your train. RPO, baggage and combination cars work well, also diners with side loading doors.

If you have restrooms on the train you must have an accessable one. Bob Harbison has covered the car Mt Rainier built for several purposes which included ADA accomodation on a previous thread. Obviously, having all the accessability functions in one car makes a ot of sense - the rest of the car can be used for power systems, meal prep, souvenier sales or other online services.

For those using untraditional cars - transfer cabeese, gons and other cars with loading ramps rather than steps and traps serve nicely when combined with boarding platforms.

It takes about half the energy to build it that is usually used in whining about it.

dave