This is a follow-up to my previous article about Transport for London (TfL), in which a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request mentioned the use of Passenger Emergency Alarms (PEA) by wheelchair users in the event of missed assistance at Tube and railway stations.
The FOI response below provides detailed information, such as the height of the PEAs and the Call For Aid (CFA) help points inside some of their trains.
Request ID: FOI-2221-2425
Date published: 04 November 2024
Elizabeth Line:
PEAs are located at doorways A, C and E on every saloon and Call For Aid (CFA) points are located in the wheelchair bays. This is further illustrated in the attached diagrams (PEAs are shown as red dots, CFA points are green dots).
The PEA height is 1390mm, the CFA height is 750mm
London Underground:
We have different rolling stock in use across different London Underground lines. There is a passenger alarm in every vestibule (door area) on every train except on the Waterloo and City line (note that the Waterloo and City Line fleet is being overhauled to incorporate equipment required to comply with the Rail vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2010).
Passenger Emergency Alarms are fitted in wheelchair bays at heights determined to be operable by users between the 5th percentile female and 95th percentile males when using a reference wheelchair. These vary in height and design by fleet. Alarms available in other areas of the train also vary in height determined by the space available on the train but have been determined to be operable by standing users 5th percentile female and 95th percentile males.
We have assured our designs for accessibility and operation by the ‘smallest’ to ‘largest’ of our Customers (otherwise known as the 5th percentile female to 95th percentile male) including those who use wheelchairs. The PEAs are therefore positioned at a height to ensure that they can be accessed and operated by those standing and those using wheelchairs in the vestibule area.
London Overground:
For both 378s and 710s the PEAs are located on the right hand side of the double doorways as you exit through them. The 378s also have two extra buttons, one in each wheelchair section and the 710s have two Call for Aid buttons, also one in each wheelchair section.
On the 378s the buttons in each doorway are 1500mm from the train floor and 750mm in the wheelchair sections. For 710s, the passenger emergency alarms are 1460mm from the train floor and the call for aid buttons are 760mm in the wheelchair sections.
Docklands Light Railway:
Both the B2007s and B92s have a similar arrangement apart from the B92 Disabled Alarm Talkback unit (or DATU) height from floor level. The Passenger Alarm Talkback units or (PATUs) number 4 per vehicle and are located on the doors 1, 3, 6 and 8 at a height of approx. 164cm height from floor level. Disabled Alarm Talkback units (or DATUs), number 2 per vehicle, and are located in the area of the wheel chair spaces, at a height of approx. 73cm from floor level for the B2007 vehicle and approx. 86cm for the B92 vehicle. The illustrations attached (two halves of a complete vehicle) shows the positioning of the units highlighted in yellow.
Regarding question number 3 on Passenger Emergency Alarms (The number of times the emergency alarm was activated in 2023 due to mobility aid users being unable to deboard at their destination) this exact information is not recorded for the London Underground, the Elizabeth Line or the London Overground. For the DLR, there were a minimum of 25 activations due to passengers missing their stop (the remaining 189 activations are just recorded as general “passenger alarm activation”, with no reason recorded).
Regarding the questions on ramp and mini ramp usage, the information is not recorded for the London Underground. Nor is it recorded for the Elizabeth Line, although we do know that there were 12,413 prebooked passenger assists in 2023, but we are unable to determine how many of these required a ramp or mini-ramp (noting that not all passenger assistances require a ramp or mini ramp, as some stations have level boarding). For the London Overground, the total number of times a ramp was requested in 2023 was 23,747 times. The London Overground does not keep records of where a requested ramp or mini ramp was not available for a mobility aid user at their destination in 2023 (however, note that all London Overground stations that are wheelchair accessible are equipped with a ramp). The questions are not applicable to the DLR which did not have ramps or any mini ramps in use in 2023.
#Transport for #London Freedom of Information release: Information on Passenger Emergency Alarms and Ramp Usage Statistics "For the DLR, there were a minimum of 25 activations due to passengers missing their stop..." tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) November 4, 2024 at 11:37 PM
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The purpose of this article is to relay important information provided by TfL in their recent FOI release regarding the use of EPAs. These alarms are a vital safety feature for wheelchair users, enabling them to notify staff in the event that assistance is missed at their destination station. The FOI release offers valuable insights into how these alarms are deployed across the network and their role in supporting accessibility, ensuring that passengers who depend on mobility assistance can travel with greater confidence and security.
In addition to this article, I have published a series of supplementary articles that explore the challenges and considerations involved in travelling on the Tube and railway system by wheelchair. These pieces address a range of relevant topics, including the design and accessibility of stations and trains, as well as the support services available to passengers with mobility impairments. I believe these articles provide essential information for individuals with mobility needs, as well as for stakeholders seeking to improve the inclusivity and accessibility of the public transport system. I encourage readers to disseminate these resources to help foster greater awareness and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the passenger experience for all.
Transport for London Advises Wheelchair Users To Use The Emergency Passenger Alarm In The Event Of Missed Assistance At Underground, Overground and Elizabeth Line Stations — With Detailed Procedures
Suggestion: Improvements To Wheelchair Accessibility At Railway Stations Should Include Allowing Other Staff To Use The Wheelchair Ramps
