SWITZERLAND: Högg Group company Simplify Engineering has received the first order for its latest design of automated train-mounted wheelchair lift. It offers deployment and retraction at the touch of a button, and can accommodate boarding at stations with different platform heights. The cycle time is 100 sec, and the door opening area is not obstructed.
It has a wheelchair platform size of up to 800 x 1 200 mm, capacity of 360 kg and lifting height up to 800 mm, and the design can be customised according to an operator’s particular needs. The lift has been ordered by Alstom for use on an unspecified rolling stock fleet.
There are some massive forces that have to be repsolved in the structure of this design, and in the stowed position it looks to be quite bulky. I note they say it doesn’t take up space in the doorway, but it does take up space.. That said, it’s a commendable initiative and having seem some of the devices the Swiss use, it’s also extremely elegant.
Side track:
If we count the cost of installing something similar or using stationary manually operated things to solve this problem for every train that travels along lines with different platform height, wouldn’t it actually be cheaper to once and for all just change the platform height everywhere within mainland Europe?
@Cent Trente
Echoing 130’s comment, these chair lifts need to handle powered wheelchairs, which with their considerable battery are quite heavy. I’ve not seen any car designs with a built-in lift, but that would be the next step in accessibility.