September 4, 2014

Rooms and Spaces Subcommittee Report:

Restrooms

Scoping: Each new Amtrak car shall have a restroom meeting the technical requirements, 

except dining and lounge cars where no restroom is provided for the general public. Where 

restrooms for the public are provided in a car, a restroom meeting the following requirements 

shall be provided. A car, other than provided by Amtrak, with no public restroom shall not be 

required to have an accessible restroom. Accessible restrooms shall be in close proximity to 

seating spaces for persons using wheelchairs and mobility aids and shall be connected to 

those spaces by an accessible on-board circulation path. In fixed-consist trains, not provided 

by Amtrak, where a restroom for the public is not provided in a specific car, an accessible 

restroom shall be permitted to be provided in an adjacent car provided: a) required 

wheelchair spaces in the car without a restroom are located in the end of the car closest to 

the connection with the car that has an accessible restroom; b) the accessible restroom is as 

close as practicable to the connection between cars; c) doors along the path are automatic; 

and d) the floor surface across the transition is “smooth” (see surface requirements in 

ABA/ADA Guidelines). Meets the requirements for an accessible on-board circulation path 

(see Surfaces).

Technical Requirements:

 60” turning circle

o The Board should solicit comments from wheelchair and mobility aid users as to 

whether there are configurations without a turning circle which are 

nevertheless usable

 Allow side approach to toilet/water closet (WC)

 Power door

o Controls comply with Controls and Operating Mechanisms 

o controls 12” minimum from inside corner (does not apply to manual 

handle/latch for use when power fails)

 Grab bars on side and behind water closet (use buildings and facilities requirements)

 Grab bar along front of lavatory (may serve as WC side grab bar)

 Fold-down grab bar permitted on open side of WC, provided it meets force 

requirements for folding/deploying and does not intruded into required clear floor 

space when not deployed

 Lavatory faucet controls (and soap dispenser, if provided) shall be proximity (e.g., infrared) activated

 Where feasible, lavatory should be within reach of person seated on WC

Single–level dining car
 Table space for two wheelchairs, transfer seats for two (storage?)

 Table top 34” max

 29” min under table, extending 17” min back from seating position edge

 32” min width

Sleeping compartment

Scoping: at least one compartment in each sleeping car shall meet the technical requirements 

below.

Technical requirements:

 Side transfer to toilet, shower chair; meet requirements for restrooms above

 60” turning circle in sleeping area with bed deployed

 Controls for all lights, HVAC, call button, etc., within reach ranges (allow duplicate 

controls; tethered remote also allowed))

 Positive door latch, operable from outside by train personnel

 Use new VIA design shown below as model (other configurations which meet the space 

requirements may be possible)

 Bed at wheelchair seat height (18”)

 Table usable by wheelchair user: 34” max top height; 29” min under clearance to 17” 

from approach edge; 32” min width under approach edge

Lounge car

Scoping: single-level lounge cars shall comply with the following technical requirements. Bilevel lounge cars shall comply on the lower level. Bi-level lounge cars shall have direct access 

to station platforms on the lower level. Where vertical access is provided, accessible seating 

spaces shall also be provided on the upper level. Where a bi-level dining car is provided, an 

accessible bi-level lounge car shall be directly coupled to it.

Technical requirements:

 Table space for 2, same as dining car

 Accessible restroom

 Self-serve area meets ABA/ADA Guidelines for cafeteria

 Vending machines meet ADA/ABA guidelines for controls and operating mechanisms

(attach diagram from Uwe)