The Ministry of Construction of Vietnam is widely collecting public opinions on the draft set of Vietnamese Standards (TCVN) titled “Railway Applications – Design for Convenient Use by Persons with Disabilities – General Requirements,” aiming to complete the technical framework and ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities within the railway system.
In the context of accelerated investment in the urban railway network, the development of a national standard on accessible design for persons with disabilities is an urgent requirement to address legal gaps and standardize specific technical requirements.
In countries with developed railway industries, standard systems are methodically developed to ensure compatibility and synchronization among lines within the same network, from infrastructure, rolling stock, signaling – control, telecommunications to station equipment and operational support components.
Beyond technical requirements, the global trend toward sustainable transport development also places emphasis on safe, affordable, and convenient accessibility for all groups, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, children, and other vulnerable passengers.
Independent and equal access to public transportation not only improves quality of life but also expands opportunities to access education, employment, healthcare, and social services.
In Europe, these requirements are strictly stipulated in EN standards, forming a comprehensive technical framework for the design, construction, installation, and operation of railway systems. As a result, persons with disabilities can access railway transport conveniently, safely, and without discrimination.
Specifically, vehicles must be equipped with handrails, priority seating, appropriate information display devices, designated wheelchair spaces, and convenient boarding and alighting access. Station infrastructure must include ramps, handrails, tactile paving for the visually impaired, obstacle-free pathways, and more.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the system of legal documents and standards related to design for persons with disabilities has been established but lacks synchronization and specialization in the field of public passenger transport, particularly railways and urban railways.
Current regulations mainly focus on general accessibility requirements for construction works; specific technical parameters for stations, vehicles, and passenger information systems have not yet been fully standardized.
According to the drafting agency’s assessment, Vietnam currently does not have a unified TCVN set for this field, leading to a lack of a comprehensive legal basis in the design, construction, and operation processes, causing difficulties in quality management and conformity assessment.
The draft TCVN, organized and developed by the Vietnam Railway Authority, has been completed at the grassroots level and submitted for appraisal, comprising three parts: Part 1 – Contrast (code TC2553); Part 2 – Information (code TC2554); Part 3 – Optical and Friction Characteristics (code TC2555).
In the context of the national urban railway development plan aiming to establish five systems in major cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Da Nang, with 14 lines in Hanoi and 8 lines in Ho Chi Minh City along with several additional routes, the requirement to standardize accessible design has become increasingly urgent.
These systems all aim toward modernization, electrification, and a high level of automation; therefore, ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities must be considered a core requirement for sustainable development and social equity.
The draft standard proposes establishing fundamental technical requirements to ensure accessibility and obstacle-free mobility throughout the entire railway system, including infrastructure and locomotives – carriages.
The applicable subjects include organizations involved in the design, construction, manufacturing, installation, and assessment of systems, equipment, and works related to accessibility activities for persons with disabilities in the railway sector; including design consultants, investors, operating entities, equipment manufacturers, and specialized regulatory agencies.
The standard set provides guidance for designing infrastructure components such as stations, platforms, access routes, pedestrian bridges, and boarding assistance equipment; vehicle components such as boarding areas, seating arrangements, and wheelchair spaces; as well as communication and information systems serving passengers with disabilities. The requirements focus on groups with limited mobility or sensory impairments such as visual impairment, hearing impairment, and communication difficulties.
The Ministry of Construction’s organization of broad public consultation on the draft is expected to contribute to completing a unified technical framework, providing a basis for standardizing design in the urban railway sector, thereby improving service quality and ensuring equal access rights for all passengers./.
VPDAĐS - TECCO1