Why do UK trains not have built in ramps as seen in some other countries?

[Bungle73]

Apparently, in some other countries, trains have built-in ramps for disabled passengers to be able to board without having to have the assistance of a member of staff with a separate ramp, as happens here. Is there some reason new UK trains are not built with ramps? This is something that came up on another forum.

 

[cjmillsnun]

The only reason I can think of (in the case of newer trains), is that our loading gauge is quite restrictive compared to that in other countries. This makes finding somewhere to stow an automatic ramp (and provide space for the machinery to operate it) would be an issue.

The flat ramps are easily stored on a platform and on the train itself. Also for emergency evacuation, the manual flat ramps have an advantage in that they can be used with the power and air systems inoperative. This gives a viable means of escape that wouldn't be there in an automatic system.

 

[badassunicorn]

Not sure if its a genuine reason, but I've noticed on the continent trains aren't as "tall" as they are here, the platforms are only maybe 1-2ft off the ground unlike in the UK.

 

[Loki]

Not sure if its a genuine reason, but I've noticed on the continent trains aren't as "tall" as they are here, the platforms are only maybe 1-2ft off the ground unlike in the UK.

That's true. Also platform height varies A LOT on the continent. This is not a problem here as most platforms pretty much fit the door height but on the continent quite often you might need to have some steps on the carriage just to reach the door hence the need for ramps as well. That said some of our trains do have extendable platform (although not fit for buggies) such as the Pendolinos.

 

[ECML180]

There's often a different height/length between train doors and platforms here, don't know if its the same overseas, so it may be challenging to manufacture an automatic ramp that can manage all these whilst maintaining an acceptable slope and not opening on to nearby platform furnature.

But I don't think it would be too technically difficult to have a powered underfloor ramp like on buses that could be operated by the train manager when needed. Only one would be required per train, obviously at the door where the wheelchair space was.
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That's true. Also platform height varies A LOT on the continent. This is not a problem here as most platforms pretty much fit the door height but on the continent quite often you might need to have some steps on the carriage just to reach the door hence the need for ramps as well. That said some of our trains do have extendable platform (although not fit for buggies) such as the Pendolinos.

Perhaps the answer lies in that they're so used to putting automatic steps on the trains having a powered ramp was just the next logical progression.

 

[edwin_m]

The variability of platforms is actually much more in much of the Continent than in the UK, and with the exception of some commuter routes none are as high as the British ones. Perhaps the answer is that a manual ramp works quite well in the UK so why bother with something more sophisticated and unreliable? Even if the ramp is powered it would still need a member of staff to operate it, as it's difficult to see how a powered one could operate unsupervised without risk of serious injury.

 

[starrymarkb]

Continental Ramps are more steps or gang planks that bridge the gap between train and platform, they are not always level with the platform edge (ie there is a big step *down* into Talent 2 low floor units at Berlin Hbf from the ICE height platforms)

 

[Katada]

Ramps which are automated are unreliable. Have it done manually, it's friendlier, safer, and far more reliable.

 

[pt_mad]

Ramps which are automated are unreliable. Have it done manually, it's friendlier, safer, and far more reliable.

Stuff like operation of manual ramps also helps to keep people in jobs at stations.

If it were a case of the guard simply pushes a button to lower and raise a ramp, stations would probably lose the task of wheelchair assistance.