Summary of PRIIA Next Generation 

Equipment Committee Accessibility 

Accommodations and Other Areas for 

Consideration

MELISSA SHURLAND

PROGRAM MANAGER

Office of Research and Development

Office of Railroad Policy and Development 
Overview

• Background of PRIIA Next Generation Equipment 

Committee

• Development of Accessibility Recommendations

• PRIIA Bi-level Passenger Rail Car Characteristics

• PRIIA Bi-level Passenger Rail Car Accessibility 

Accommodations

• Additional Passenger Rail Car Accessibility 

Accommodations for Consideration

• Applicability of ADAAG for Passenger Rail Car

• Open Discussion

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Background of PRIIA Next Generation 

Equipment Committee

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Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, (PRIIA) 2008, Section 

305 - “...Amtrak shall establish a Next Generation Corridor Equipment 

Pool Committee,...The purpose of the Committee shall be to design, 

develop specifications for, and procure standardized next-generation 

corridor equipment.”

• Amtrak

• FRA

• States: California, Illinois, Iowa, 

Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, 

New York, North Carolina, 

Oklahoma, Washington, 

Wisconsin
Background Con’t

PRIIA Next Generation Equipment Committee 

Accessibility Policy Group

• Review the current and future needs of 

passengers with disabilities, and 

• Make recommendations on how best to address 

those needs in the most cost-effective and 

reasonable manner.

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Development of Accessibility

Recommendations

• Oregon State University under Contract with 

FRA developed recommendations

– Reviewed current demographics of Americans

– Reviewed current domestic and international 

standards for wheeled mobility devices

– Reviewed current passenger rail car interior layout 

design: VIA Rail, Amtrak Acela, etc.

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Development of Accessibility 

Recommendations Cont.

• Accessibility Working Group reviewed 

recommendations and presented to NGEC 

Executive Board for consideration

– Rail Car Manufacturers: Alstom, Bombardier, 

Kawasaki, Talgo, Siemens

– Suppliers: Ricon

– Providers: Amtrak, Caltrans, NC DOT, 

– Federal: US DOT OST, FRA, FTA, US Access Board 

Staff

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Development of Accessibility 

Recommendations Cont.

• Manufacturers, Providers and Suppliers found 

recommendations to be technically feasible

– Structural recommendations were incorporated 

into the bi-level specifications in time for 

procurement (Caltrans and Mid-west States)

– Non-structural recommendations (restroom) will 

be translated to engineering drawings for further 

feasibility study

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PRIIA Bi-level Car Characteristics

• Bi-level passenger rail car

– Passenger seating in upper and lower level

• Intended for medium to long distance intercity 

passenger service

• Car to car pass through on upper level

• Three types of cars: coach, café/lounge, 

cab/baggage

• Accessible seating locations in all three types of 

cars

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PRIIA Bi-level Car Characteristics

Cont.

• Overall Length: 85 ft

• Overall Height: 16 ft 2 in.

• Overall Width: 10 ft 6 in.

• Lower Floor Height: 18 in above top of rail

• Upper Floor Height: 105.5 in above top of rail

• Side Door Opening: 52 in clear opening

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ITEM ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY

ACCOMMODATIONS REGULATIONS

Carborne lift design load 800 lbs. ADA: 600 lbs.

§38.125(b)

Lift platform size 30” x 54” ADA: 30” x 48”

§38.125(b)(6)

On-board circulation • 44” clearance for 90 degree turn from vestibule into 

car; 

• 32” x 59” to maneuver in and out of accessible 

position; 

• 32” wide clear passage from accessible seating 

position to accessible restroom*

ADA: 42” vestibule 

30” x 48” accessible seating 

position

§38.113(b)

Accessible seating location 32” x 59” for each mobility aid position ADA: minimum clear floor 

space of 30” x 48”

§38.125(d)

PRIIA Bi-level Passenger Rail Car Enhanced 

Accessibility Accommodations

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PRIIA Bi-level Coach Car Conceptual 

Interior Layout

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PRIIA Bi-level Café/Lounge Car 

Conceptual Interior Layout

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Food 

Service
PRIIA Bi-level Cab/Baggage Car 

Conceptual Interior Layout

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ITEM ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY 

RECOMMODATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

REGULATIONS

Accessible seating 

location

• Two accessible seating positions with transfer seats

• Locate accessible seat near window;

• Pivoting armrest at accessible seat for ease of transfer;

• Accessible call button reachable from the accessible space and 

transfer seat

• Usable hard surface such as a table/tray table at accessible location 

• Unoccupied wheeled mobility device stowage space in the same 

car

ADA: minimum clear floor 

space of 30” x 48”

§38.125(d)

Access in dining/bistro 

area

• 32” x 59” footprint at an accessible table;

• 30” vertical clearance under the table; 

• Unoccupied wheeled mobility device stowage space in the dinning 

car

ADA: 30” by 48" §38.125(d)(2)

Accessible Restroom • Sliding power assisted door; 

• 36”, if located on ends

• 42”, if located at side

• Space near toilet for dependent and independent transfers;

• Fold down grab bar at side(s) of toilet; 

• Accessible emergency call button reachable from seated position 

on toilet and from 10” above floor

ADA: Clear floor space of 35” x 

60”

§38.123(a).

Additional Passenger Rail Car Enhanced 

Accessibility Accommodations for Consideration

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ITEM ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY

RECOMMODATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

REGULATIONS

Accessible Restroom 

Con’t

• Water temperature limit;

• Automatic toilet flush, faucet/soap controls;

• Toilet designed to support user weight of 400 lbs.; 

• Toilet paper within reach from seated position on 

toilet;

• Split-type seat

ADA: Clear floor space of 35” x 

60”

§38.123(a).

On-board Passenger 

Information Systems, 

OPIS

Provide real-time information for passengers in audio and 

visual format, for: 

• Travel Info (current stop, next stop, transfers, 

accessibility, etc.);

• Emergency Information

ADA: § 38.121(a)

Public address system or other 

effective Communication

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Additional Passenger Rail Car Enhanced 

Accessibility Accommodations for 

Consideration
ITEM ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY 

RECOMMENDATION FOR CONSIDERATION

REGULATIONS

Signage All signage accessible 

• with additional focus on practical and efficient 

placement within seating area for ease of access

ADA: §38.113(e)

Emergency Evacuation On-board evacuation devices for wheeled mobility device 

users

• Intended for use by train crew or emergency 

responders to evacuate passengers

• Not intended to transport mobility devices

Not Available

Service animal 

accommodation

Two spaces for services animals 

• out of passage way

• Can be under the seat or within the accessible 

seating location

Not Available

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Additional Passenger Rail Car Enhanced 

Accessibility Accommodations for 

Consideration
Potential Applicability of ADAAG for Passenger 

Rail Equipment

• December 2012 USDOT established guidance about “What 

Accessibility Standards Apply To Passenger Rail Cars When 

Specific Design Standards Are Not Provided In 49 CFR Part 38” 

– Pointed to Chapter 3 and 9 for railcar elements in dining car that should 

be accessible

– Advised service providers to work with FRA and FTA when it may be 

infeasible to include some accessible features

• NGEC review ADAAG for other areas of potential applicability of 

the guidelines for passenger rail equipment. For example,

– Section 302 – Floor or Ground Surface. Provides guidance on flooring 

within the passenger area

– Section 505 – Handrails. Provides guidance on design of handrails to 

make them more accessible

– Section 810 – Public Address. Provides guidance on public address that 

provides audio/visual information

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Review of ADAAG Con’t

• Design tool for passenger rail equipment operators and 

manufacturers 

• ADAAG Review Document is available to RVAAC for review 

and comments.

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Open Discussion

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Thank You

Melissa Shurland

Federal Railroad Administration

Railroad Policy and Development

Office of Research and Development

Melissa.shurland@dot.gov

202-493-1316

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