Amtrak recently highlighted progress it has made toward making rail travel more accessible and inclusive across its national network. The reflection corresponds with the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26.
“Accessibility is fundamental to how we serve our customers today and how we plan for the future,” Dr. David Handera, Amtrak accessibility, stations and facilities vice president, said. “From station improvements and new train fleets to innovative customer services, we are making meaningful progress toward creating a more accessible transportation network that serves all customers for generations to come.”
Highlights include:
Amtrak, in partnership with Be My Eyes, recently launched an accessibility platform that connects blind and low-vision customers with specially trained staff familiar with station layouts and accessibility resources to provide real-time assistance and wayfinding support. The service is available at 51 stations.
A total of 163 of 382 stations are fully ADA compliant. Of the remainder, 86 projects are underway, 306 station designs have been completed, and 132 projects are scheduled for construction through 2030.
The NextGen Acela fleet and the Airo trainsets offer better accessibility.
Accessibility remains a guiding principle as Amtrak continues its broader fleet modernization and infrastructure improvement programs.