US Access Board – Rail Vehicle Accessibility Advisory Committee Subcommittee for Interior Circulation and Seating Matrix 9/3/2014

#

Vehicle

Type

Features

Doorw

ay 

width, 

exterio

r

Doorway width, between 

cars

Route 

to 

Mobilit

y Aid 

Seating 

Locatio

n, clear 

width

Vestibule 

width

Clear 

Mobility 

Aid 

Seating 

Location 

(minimu

m in 

inches)

Overlap of 

clear space

Number 

of 

Mobility 

Aid 

Seating 

Location 

spaces

Handrails, 

stanchions

diameter* 

(inches)

Knuckle 

clearan

ce

(inches)

Fair 

box 

guar

d

Maneuverabil

ity near doors

Maneuverabilit

y at seating

space

(minimum in 

inches)

Service animal 

space

Service 

animal 

quanti

ty

Accessibl

e seating 

details

1 Rapid Rail (Subways) 32” 

min

30” min

(if 30” aisles) 32” min N/A 30 x 48 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A

Attention to 

ensure 

maximum

None None

2 RVAAC

32” 

min 

Note 1

32” except at cab ends of 

transit cars; 30”

Note 2 

Note 7

32”

44” Clear 

across 

width of car

Note 5

32 x 54 /

32 x 59

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

2

Note 4 1.25 – 1.5” 1.5” N/A Note 5 b,c

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6

14Wx38Lx16H 2

Notes 

17,18

3

Light Rail

(includes New Streetcars) notes:

8,9,10,11,13,14

32” 

min

30” min

(if 30” aisles) 32” min N/A 30 x 48 6” at 12” high 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min Yes

Attention to 

ensure 

maximum

None None

4 RVAAC 32” 

min

32” min, Note 7 32” min N/A

32 x 54 /

32 x 59

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

2

Note 4 1.25 – 1.5” 1.5” Yes Note 5 b,c

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6

14Wx38Lx16H 2

Notes 

17,18

5 Commuter Rail 32” 

min

30” min

(if 30” aisles) 32” min 42" 30 x 48 6" at 9"H 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A None None

6 RVAAC 32” 

min

32” min, Note 7 32” min

44” 

Note 5

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

2

Note 1.25 – 1.5” 1.5” N/A Note 5

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6

14Wx38Lx16H 2

Notes 

17,18

7

Intercity Rail Cars

High Speed Train Sets

Notes: 14,16

32” 

min 32” min 32” min 42" min 30 x 48 6" at 9"H

1, no 

more

than 2

1.25 - 1.5 1.5" 

min N/A

Sufficient 

turning and 

maneuvering 

space

None None

8 RVAAC 32” 

min

32” min, Note 7 44” 

Note 5

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

2

Note 1.25 – 1.5” 1.5” N/A Note 5 

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6

14Wx38Lx16H 2

Notes 

17,18,19

9

PRIAA Single Level

(intercity) 32” min 32” min 32” min 44” min 32 x 59 6" at 9"H 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A 32 x 59 14Wx38Lx16H 2

1

0

PRIAA Bi-Level

(intercity) 32” min 32” min 32” min 44” min 32 x 59 6" at 9"H 2 1.25 - 1.5 1.5" min N/A 32 x 59 14Wx38Lx16H

1

1

RVAAC 32”

min

32” min, Note 7 44” 

Note 5

32 x 54 / 

32 x 59

Note 3

6” at 12” 

high

2

Note 1.25 – 1.5” 1.5” N/A Note 5 

60” diameter 

circle 

Note 6

14Wx38Lx16H 2

Notes 

17,18,19

*Current building guidelines require 11⁄4 -2 inches outside diameter for handrails.
US Access Board – Rail Vehicle Accessibility Advisory Committee Subcommittee for Interior Circulation and Seating Matrix 9/3/2014

Notes:

1. Discussion of how to achieve clear openings with two-leaf doors 

Possible recommendations:

a. Bi-parting doors should have at least one leaf that opens to a clear width of 32”

b. Door leaves interlocked so that a functioning door always opens both leaves

c. Both leaves must have an emergency release feature in case one leaf is obstructed or damaged so that it cannot open

d. Communication method / device provided at the door area to alert the driver/operator to ensure passengers do not get stuck on the car because of inoperative doors. (Device location 

must comply with requirements for reachability of controls from a wheelchair.)

The key issue of this issue is that passengers can get stuck on trains and carried to distant stations and returning to the intended station can be difficult and/or dangerous. Regulating the size of 

door components may not solve the problem since any door opening system can and will fail in time. The key to avoiding the problem of getting trapped is to have immediate communication 

available between the passenger and operator so that the passenger can be let out of the car and the door locked out until it can be serviced. The Subcommittee would like to solicit comment 

from industry representatives in order to make final recommendations.

2. Cab ends of transit cars such as subways may have 30” clear openings if there is a legitimate issue for the operator having appropriate space and creating a wider path adversely impacts the 

operator’s safe field of vision. Subway and some other transit vehicles have vehicle width limitations that affect the available space for operator’s and end-of-car structure. Suggested change 

to add Cab Cars and MU cars

3. 32” x 59” is required when the space is confined on 3 sides to insure adequate maneuvering space. Suggested change from 8/14 meeting was to 34 x 62”. Also suggested was that we 

should re-visit the study-based dimension of 33 x 56” which accommodates 95% of mobility devices including scooters.

4. Some quantity of seats should be easily removable or convertible to temporarily accommodate groups of individuals using wheelchairs.

5. Vehicles with vestibules and those without have different entrance path needs due to the physical arrangement of the entrance area.

a. Vehicles that have defined walls that establish a “vestibule” separate from passenger occupied space should be 44” wide over the most restrictive protrusion where 90 degree or 

similar turns are required immediately upon entering the vehicle. If the vestibule is arranged to allow a free-flowing path into the passenger area or aisle leading to that area, then 

the most restrictive width of the vestibule near the door may be less than 44” but in no case can the unobstructed path be less than 32” . 

b. Vehicles that do not have vestibules or otherwise physically defined separation between entrance areas and passenger occupied areas and require 90 degree or similar turn to reach 

the accessible seating space, must have a clear space across the vehicle free from panels or stanchions equal or greater than the open width of the side doors. Suggested change of to 

set the stanchion minimum at 44” to provide safe refuge for ambulatory passengers who are less stable or of short stature who find themselves in this space with no choice to move 

further into the vehicle. This was suggested to avoid a vast “no-man’s land” when cars have large side door openings.

c. Stanchions provided adjacent to doors to aid boarding and alighting passengers whether in wheelchairs or ambulatory may be at the 32” minimum or the door width whichever is 

greater. Stanchions located elsewhere across the width of the car between the side doors must be at least the width of the door apart or 44” whichever is greater. Suggested change 

of this to “The distance between stanchions adjacent to doors may be no less than 32” or 6” less than the clear door opening apart, whichever is greater”
US Access Board – Rail Vehicle Accessibility Advisory Committee Subcommittee for Interior Circulation and Seating Matrix 9/3/2014

6. A 60” maneuvering circle must be provide at each Mobility Aid Seating Location to insure that the passenger can maneuver the wheelchair into the seating location. The circle may overlap 

the aisle, Mobility Aid Seating Location and other maneuvering locations. The purpose of the maneuvering circle is to ensure that a passenger can turn to face their desired direction of travel 

and exit the Mobility Aid Seating Location toward the door in which they entered the vehicle.

7. Overlap of clear path between cars. Safety devices for use by railroad crews are often located at the ends of cars and in some cases such as lever type hand brakes, have geometric 

dimensions and locations that are critical to safe operation particularly during emergencies. Once such device is the lever type hand-brake that has a maximum pivot height determined by 

other governing bodies. As a result:

Proposed

a. Protrusions into the clear aisle /doorway between cars must be at least 34” above the floor of the vehicle and may protrude no more than 4” See 36CFR1191, appendix A, 404.2.3

b. Protrusions into the may not continue for more than 12” longitudinally and may not occur simultaneously on the opposite side of the path. 

c. Protrusions must be separated longitudinally by a minimum of 20”. This assumes two coupled cars with the same end configuration

8. Streetcars are included in light rail. Replica and rehabilitated cars under 30 feet are the same as light rail except for seating locations. Cars over 30feet are the same as light rail

9. Monorails in transit service are subject to the same requirements as light rail systems. Some exception may be needed for wheel intrusion on straddle beam vehicles.

10.Automated Light Rail Transit (ALRT), Automated Guideway Transit, (AGT), Skytrains, etc are subject to the same requirements as light rail systems. 

11. Cable Tramways service are subject to the same requirements as light rail systems.

12.Cog Railways are subject to the same minimum requirements as light rail systems

13.Incline planes / funiculars with 16 or fewer passenger must have one accessible seating location; vehicles with more than 16 passengers are subject to the same minimum requirements as 

light rail systems

14. Maglev (Magnetic levitation and propulsion) with capacity of more than 16 passengers and operation exceeding 60 MPH will comply with the requirements of intercity rail. Vehicles on 

systems with vehicle capacity of 16 passenger or less and /or operating less than 60MPH must comply with the requirements for Automated Guideway Trainsit (AGT).

15. Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) . Each car must be accessible with 32” entry doors and one accessible seating location. Otherwise PRT’s will comply with Light Rail requirements.

16. Current regulations require the number of coach seats to equal the number coaches in the train with no more than two seats per car. Suggested that if the requirement for accessible 

seating spaces is increased per car that the required quantity be associated with the number of coaches as now. 

17. Seats considered transfer seats must have a seating surface that is at least 17” above the floor.

18. Seats considered transfers seats with armrests must include armrest that rotate out of the way so as not to inhibit transfer. When rotated out of the way, the armrest must be at least 1⁄2 inch 

behind the surface of the seat back. Armrests must be designed to remain in the upright or down position during normal train motion.

19.Sleeping car seats , food service seats, dining car seats or other seats intended for occupancy by persons who wish to transfer from a wheelchair must be at least 17” from the finished floor. 

No portion of the seat frame or shrouds may extend beyond the passenger surfaces of the seat bottom or back.