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Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (SOR/2019-244)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2022-06-25. Previous Versions

PART 3Technical Requirements Applicable to Carriers (continued)

DIVISION 2Rail Carriers (continued)

Application (continued)

Marginal note:Non-application — temporary leases

 This Division does not apply in respect of a train that is leased by a carrier on a short-term basis in order to respond to an emergency or to replace a train that requires repairs due to an unforeseen mechanical failure.

Technical Requirements

Marginal note:Duty of carrier

 A carrier must ensure that any train that it owns, operates or leases and any related facilities, including any amenities and equipment used in them, meet the requirements of this Division.

Marginal note:Step box

 A step box that is used to assist a person with a disability to board or disembark from a train must

  • (a) be of sound construction;

  • (b) have a tread surface that is firm and slip-resistant;

  • (c) have a glare-free surface; and

  • (d) have a top outer edge that is marked by a contrasting colour strip that runs the full width of the box.

Marginal note:Mandatory step box

 A rail car must be equipped with a step box if the riser height of the first or last step of any stairs that are used by passengers to board or disembark is greater than the riser height of the other steps.

Marginal note:Lift

 A lift that is used to assist a person with a disability, including a person in a mobility aid, to board or disembark from a train must

  • (a) have handrails that are located on both sides of the lift and a slip-resistant surface; and

  • (b) be capable of supporting a minimum weight of 363 kg.

Marginal note:Ramp

 A ramp that is used to assist a person with a disability, including a person in a mobility aid, to board or disembark from a train must

  • (a) have a contrasting colour strip that runs the full width of its bottom edge;

  • (b) have raised edges to prevent a mobility aid from rolling off the edge of the ramp;

  • (c) have a slip-resistant surface; and

  • (d) be capable of supporting a minimum weight of 363 kg.

Marginal note:No level boarding

 If a rail terminal does not permit level boarding of a train and there is no lift or ramp available at the rail terminal, the train must be equipped with a lift or ramp.

Marginal note:Other stops

 If a train makes a stop at any place that is not at a terminal and where passengers are permitted to board and disembark, the train must be equipped with a lift or ramp.

Marginal note:Stairs

 Any stairs that are used to board or disembark from a train, and any interior stairs on a train, must

  • (a) meet the requirements set out in clauses 5.4.1 and 5.4.2 of CSA B651-18;

  • (b) have handrails that

    • (i) are located on both sides of the stairs,

    • (ii) are located at a uniform height of 860 mm to 920 mm, measured vertically from the leading edge of the tread, and

    • (iii) meet the requirements set out in clause 5.3.1 of CSA B651-18; and

  • (c) have tactile attention indicator surfaces that

    • (i) meet the meet the requirements set out in clauses 4.3.5.2(a) and (b), 4.3.5.3.1 and 4.3.5.3.4 of CSA B651-18,

    • (ii) are located at the top of the stairs, and

    • (iii) commence one tread length before the top of the stairs, extend the full width of the stairs and measure from 600 mm to 650 mm in length.

Marginal note:On-board wheelchair

 An on-board wheelchair that is available on a train must have

  • (a) footrests, movable armrests, an occupant restraint device and wheel locks;

  • (b) a backrest of a height that permits the person using the wheelchair to be safely and easily transferred to and from a passenger seat; and

  • (c) a seat of a width that permits the wheelchair to be safely and easily manoeuvred on board the train.

Marginal note:Mandatory on-board wheelchairs

 A train must have available on-board wheelchairs in a number that is equal to at least half of the sum of the number of mobility aid spaces on the train and the number of wheelchair-accessible cabins on the train.

Marginal note:Accessible path of travel

  •  (1) A path of travel on a train is accessible to persons with disabilities if it meets the requirements set out in subsections (2) and (3) and in clauses 4.4.2, 5.1.1(a) to (d) and 5.1.2 of CSA B651-18.

  • Marginal note:Hall, path or turning space

    (2) If access to the path of travel from an exterior door requires passage through a hall or path or requires a 90-degree or similar turn, then that hall, path or turning space must have a minimum clear width of 1,115 mm and a minimum clear diameter of 1,500 mm.

  • Marginal note:Aisle width

    (3) The aisle width between passenger seats must be sufficient to accommodate an on-board wheelchair.

Marginal note:Mandatory accessible path of travel

  •  (1) A train must have a path of travel that is accessible to persons with disabilities and that provides access to, from and between all of the following points on the train:

    • (a) any exterior door that is used by passengers to board or disembark;

    • (b) any mobility aid space or transfer seat; and

    • (c) any wheelchair-accessible washroom.

  • Marginal note:Wheelchair-accessible area

    (2) Any area of a train that is intended for use by a person using a wheelchair, including a wheelchair-accessible cabin or a wheelchair-accessible food service area, must have a path of travel that is accessible to persons with disabilities from that area to any adjacent rail car, if that adjacent rail car contains a mobility aid space, transfer seat or wheelchair-accessible washroom.

  • Marginal note:Shower facility and cabin

    (3) A train must have a path of travel that is accessible to persons with disabilities between a wheelchair-accessible shower facility and a wheelchair-accessible cabin.

Marginal note:Train — diaphragm

  •  (1) A diaphragm on a train must

    • (a) meet the requirements set out in clauses 5.1.1(a) to (d) of CSA B651-18; and

    • (b) have vertical handholds that are located on both sides of the diaphragm.

  • Marginal note:Definition of diaphragm

    (2) In this section, diaphragm means the passageway between rail cars.

Marginal note:Passenger seats

 Passenger seats on a train must be equipped with

  • (a) movable armrests on at least 10% of the seats, which seats are evenly distributed throughout each rail car, except a food service rail car;

  • (b) handholds on the back of all aisle passenger seats; and

  • (c) if there are call buttons, call buttons that are

    • (i) tactilely discernible and colour-contrasted with their background, and

    • (ii) operable using minimal force.

Marginal note:Tactile row markers

 Trains must be equipped with tactile row markers, in raised characters and Braille, that are installed, either permanently or temporarily, on the sides of passenger seats and above the armrests or adjacent to the mechanisms for opening overhead bins.

Marginal note:Mobility aid space

 A mobility aid space on a train must

  • (a) have a clear floor area of at least 815 mm by 1,650 mm;

  • (b) be equipped with a call button that is in a location within the reach of the person who is seated in the mobility aid space, that is tactilely discernible and colour-contrasted with its background and that is operable using minimal force; and

  • (c) be equipped with a table or counter for food service which, if located in a food service rail car that contains tables, meets the requirements set out in clauses 6.7.1.2 and 6.7.1.3 of CSA B651-18.

Marginal note:Transfer seat

 A transfer seat on a train must be equipped with a table or counter for food service.

Marginal note:Mandatory mobility aid space and transfer seat

  •  (1) A train must, in each class of service, have at least two adjacent mobility aid spaces and two adjacent transfer seats, as well as a number of additional mobility aid spaces and a number of additional transfer seats equal to one mobility aid space and one transfer seat for every 75 passenger seats.

  • Marginal note:Maximum of two mobility aid spaces

    (2) There must be no more than two mobility aid spaces in each rail car.

  • Marginal note:Food service rail car

    (3) A food service rail car that offers passenger seats must have at least two mobility aid spaces. In the case of a bi-level food service rail car, there must be at least two mobility aid spaces that are located on the lower level of the rail car.

Marginal note:Storage of mobility aids

  •  (1) At least one rail car of a train must have a space for the storage of at least one mobility aid.

  • Marginal note:Protection from damage

    (2) A mobility aid must be stored on a train in a manner that protects it from damage, including by using an anchoring system or by placing it in an area that is not intended for use by passengers.

Marginal note:Passenger safety features cards

 A train must have available on board

  • (a) at least five passenger safety features cards that are in large print and at least five passenger safety features cards that are in Braille; or

  • (b) at least five electronic devices that provide passenger safety information in an audio and visual format and permit a person with a disability to adjust the volume of the audio output and the size of the font.

Marginal note:Window emergency exits

 If a rail car is equipped with a window emergency exit, the window emergency exit must be identified by a contrasting colour strip around the perimeter and by tactile and Braille signage.

Marginal note:Standard washroom

 A washroom on a train, other than a wheelchair-accessible washroom, must

  • (a) meet the requirements set out in clause 6.3 of CSA B651-18, except clause 6.3.1.1(a) and except that

    • (i) the reference to “clause 4.2” in clause 6.2.4.1 must be read as excluding clause 4.2.2,

    • (ii) the reference to “clause 5.2” in clause 6.3.2 must be read as excluding clause 5.2.2, and

    • (iii) the reference to “clause 6.2.3” in clause 6.3.1.1(b) must be read as excluding clauses 6.2.3.1(c) and (d); and

  • (b) be equipped with at least two call buttons or two other devices for signalling an emergency that

    • (i) are located such that at least one button or device is not more than 450 mm above the floor and at least one other button or device is 800 mm to 1,100 mm above the floor,

    • (ii) are colour-contrasted with their background and identified by tactile and Braille signage, and

    • (iii) are operable using minimal force.

Marginal note:Wheelchair-accessible washroom

 A wheelchair-accessible washroom on a train must

  • (a) meet the requirements set out in clause 6.3 of CSA B651-18, except clause 6.3.1.1(a);

  • (b) provide a clear area of at least 1,500 mm by 1,500 mm; and

  • (c) be equipped with at least two call buttons or two other devices for signalling an emergency that meet the requirements set out in paragraph 110(b).

 

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