Patent Publication Number: US-7908976-B2

Title: Railway vehicle and device for accessing said vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a railway vehicle comprising an access platform which extends transversely between two lateral faces, said access platform being adjacent to at least one passenger zone. The access platform comprises a plate which is movable vertically so as to allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle from railway platforms of different heights. 
     Such a vehicle is described in patent application DE19914965. The above-mentioned patent application describes a vehicle comprising a movable plate which has a position in which the movable plate and the floor of the passenger zones are coplanar. The movable plate is displaced vertically in order to allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle from a railway platform the height of which is different from the height of the floor of the passenger zones. 
     When the movable plate is displaced vertically, a step is created, in the vehicle, between the movable plate and the floor of the passenger areas adjacent to the movable plate. 
     Such a vehicle has the disadvantage of presenting a risk to passengers when a step is created between the movable plate and the floor of the adjacent passenger areas. In addition, owing to those steps, persons with reduced mobility who access the movable plate, from a railway platform, when it is in the access position do not have access to the rest of the vehicle; such persons must wait until the movable plate of the access platform is repositioned in the same plane as the floor of the passenger zones in order to gain access to the rest of the vehicle. 
     In addition, the vehicle of the prior art, in which the plate is movable vertically, has the disadvantage that it does not allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle from all railway platforms without assistance. In particular, the superelevation of the track in a station varies according to whether the track is curved or not. In addition, wear of the wheels and compression of the vehicle suspension causes lowering and tilting of the vehicle. On account of those parameters, the vertically movable plate has random positions with more or less great inclinations relative to the railway platform. 
     In addition, the distance from the vehicle to the railway platform in the transverse direction varies as a function of the concave or convex shape of the railway platform. 
     It is considered that, in order to allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the train without assistance, the space that is left between the access zone to the vehicle and the train must have horizontal and vertical components each less than 75 millimetres and preferably less than 50 millimetres. Such distances allow the small wheels of wheelchairs to pass safely without external assistance. 
     A vehicle of the prior art has the disadvantage that it does not always allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle from a railway platform without assistance because the space that is left between the movable plate and the railway platform can be important. 
     It is an aim of the invention to propose a vehicle which ensures that persons with reduced mobility have good access to a passenger area from an access platform. 
     It is another aim of the invention to propose a vehicle which ensures that persons with reduced mobility have independent access to a passenger area from a railway platform. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To that end, the invention relates to a railway vehicle comprising an access platform which extends between two lateral faces, at least one of the faces comprising a lateral access door, the access platform being adjacent to at least one passenger area and comprising a plate which is movable vertically in order to allow passengers with reduced mobility to access/leave the access platform from/to a railway platform of height Q i  when said movable plate is placed in an embarkation/disembarkation position, characterized in that said vehicle comprises at least one means of passage allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between said passenger area and said movable plate whatever the embarkation/disembarkation position E i  thereof. 
     According to particular embodiments, the railway vehicle has one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or according to all technically possible combinations:
         the means of passage provides the connection between said movable plate and a fixed floor of the passenger area;   the means of passage is a movable floor which extends longitudinally between said movable plate and said fixed floor;   the movable floor is joined to the movable plate and to the fixed floor so as to form a longitudinal ramp between the movable plate and the fixed floor;   the inclination of said ramp varying when the movable plate is displaced vertically between an embarkation/disembarkation position E i  and an embarkation position E j , where i is different from j.   the access platform comprises adjusting means which make it easier for persons with reduced mobility to access said vehicle  1  from a railway platform of height Q i  situated opposite the adjusting means;   the adjusting means comprise a movable pallet which extends between the movable plate and a lateral access door, said movable pallet being capable of pivoting relative to the movable plate about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis;   the adjusting means comprise a closure means suitable for limiting the distance between the movable pallet and a railway platform.       

     The invention relates also to an access device comprising an access platform, said access platform comprising a plate which is movable vertically in order to allow passengers with reduced mobility to gain access to the access platform from a railway platform of height Q i  when said movable plate is placed in an embarkation/disembarkation position, characterized in that the access device further comprises:
         at least one means of passage allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between a passenger area and said movable plate whatever the embarkation/disembarkation position E i  thereof.       

     According to particular embodiments, the access device comprises one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or according to all technically possible combinations:
         said access device further comprises adjusting means which facilitate the movement of persons with reduced mobility between said movable plate and a railway platform;   the means of passage is a movable floor which extends longitudinally between said movable plate and a fixed floor of a passenger zone, said movable floor being joined to the movable plate and to the fixed floor;       

     The invention relates also to a method of adjusting the position of the access device, characterized in that it comprises:
         a step of detecting the railway platform,   a step of calculating the best arrangement of the access device in which the ramps formed by said movable floor and the adjusting means are less than 8%,   a step of bringing the movable plate into its embarkation position E i ,   a step of disposing at least the adjusting means disposed opposite the railway platform in an adjusting position in which the adjusting means reduces the distance from the access platform to the railway platform.       

     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of an embodiment given hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows diagrammatically a top view of a railway vehicle according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic representation of a longitudinal section of a railway vehicle  1  according to the invention, taken according to a cutting plane II-II which extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  1 .  FIG. 2  shows an access device according to the invention having a movable plate disposed in an embarkation/disembarkation position E 0 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic representation of a longitudinal section of a railway vehicle  1  according to the invention, taken according to a cutting plane II-II which extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  1 .  FIG. 3  shows an access device according to the invention having a movable plate disposed in an embarkation/disembarkation position E 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic representation of a longitudinal section of a railway vehicle  1  according to the invention, taken according to a cutting plane II-II which extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  1 .  FIG. 4  shows an access device according to the invention, a movable plate of which is disposed in a position E 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows diagrammatically a transverse section of the vehicle according to the vertical plane V-V which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, shown by a dotted line in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  shows a means for adjusting the distance of the vehicle from a railway platform, in a rest position; 
         FIG. 6  shows diagrammatically a transverse section of the vehicle according to the vertical plane V-V which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, shown by a dotted line in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 6  shows a means for adjusting the distance of the vehicle from a railway platform, in an adjusting position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , a railway vehicle  1  comprises two doors  2  and  2 ′ which are opposite one another and are provided in the two lateral walls  3  and  3 ′ of the vehicle. 
     The vehicle comprises an access device  26  comprising an access platform  4  which extends transversely between the two lateral walls  3  and  3 ′ and longitudinally over the entire width of the access doors  2  and  2 ′. 
     In another embodiment, only one lateral face  3  comprises an access door  2 , behind which the platform  4  extends. 
     The platform  4  comprises a vertically movable plate  5 . “Vertically movable” is understood as meaning that the plate is capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the chassis  25  of the vehicle. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the plate  5  extends over the entire length of the access platform  4 . The movable plate  5  extends transversely between two adjusting means  18  and  18 ′. The adjusting means  18  and  18 ′ extend between the movable plate  5  and an access door  2  and  2 ′, respectively. 
     In other embodiments, the plate  5  occupies a longitudinal portion of the access platform  4 . 
     By way of variation, the plate  5  extends over the entire width of the access platform  4 . 
     Passenger areas  6  and  6 ′ are provided on each side of the access platform  4 . The passenger areas  6  and  6 ′ comprise seats  9  as well as other areas including toilets  10  and circulation zones  8  and  8 ′. 
     The passenger areas  6  and  6 ′ comprise means of passage  11  and  11 ′ provided on each side of the access platform  4 , in the longitudinal direction. 
     The means of passage  11  and  11 ′ are joined to fixed floors  12  and  12 ′, respectively. The fixed floors  12  and  12 ′ are disposed on each side of the access platform  4  in a passenger area  6  and  6 ′, respectively. 
     A means of passage  11 ,  11 ′ is capable of providing the connection between the movable plate  5  and a fixed floor  12  or  12 ′. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the means of passages  11  and  11 ′ are movable floors. 
     The movable floors  11  and  11 ′ extend longitudinally between a first and second end, respectively, of the movable plate  5  and an end of a fixed floor  12  and  12 ′, respectively. The movable floor  11  is joined to the movable plate  5  and to the fixed floor  12  at a first end of the movable plate  5  and an end of the fixed floor  12  which is opposite to the first end of the movable plate  5 . The movable floor  11 ′ is joined to the movable plate  5  and to the fixed floor  12 ′ at a second end of the movable plate  5  and an end of the fixed floor  12 ′ which is opposite the second end of the movable plate  5 . 
     “Joined” is understood as meaning that the plane formed by the movable floor  11  is permanently attached to the respective ends of the movable plate  5  and of the fixed floor  12  while being movable relative to the movable plate  5  and to the fixed floor  12 . The same is true of the movable floor  11 ′ relative to the movable plate  5  and to the fixed floor  12 ′. 
     To that end, a movable floor  11  or  11 ′ is, for example, connected to the movable plate  5  and to a fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ by means of articulated couplings, ball couplings or elastic couplings. Such couplings are suitable for allowing the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ to pivot relative to the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ about axes of rotation x 1  or x′ 1  and relative to the movable floor  5  about an axis x 2  or x′ 2 . 
     The axis x 2  or x′ 2  extends along the end of the plate  5  that is joined to the movable floor  11  or  11 ′. The axis x 1  or x′ 1  extends along the end of the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ that is joined to said movable floor  11  or  11 ′. The axes x 1  and x 2  as well as x′ 1  and x′ 2  are substantially horizontal and extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle  1 . The axes x 2  and x′ 2  extend vertically at the same height as the movable plate  5 . The axes x 2  and x′ 2  are movable vertically at the same time as the movable plate  5 . 
     By way of variation, the movable floor  11  is joined to the fixed floor  12  by means of, for example, a sliding coupling between them. In that embodiment, the movable floor  11  is capable of sliding beneath the fixed floor  12  while remaining joined to one end of the fixed floor  12 . 
     As will be seen more precisely hereinbelow, the means of passage  11  and  11 ′ constitute means of passage which are capable of allowing persons with reduced mobility to easily gain access to the passenger areas  6  and  6 ′ from the movable plate  5  and vice versa. 
     The access device  26  comprising the access platform  4 , which is equipped with a movable plate  5  and adjusting means  18  and  18 ′, and with means of passage  11  and  11 ′ is suitable for allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between the passenger areas  6  and  6 ′ and the movable plate  5  independently and without disturbing the movement of the other passengers. 
     By way of variation, the vehicle  1  comprises only one passenger area  6  disposed on one side of the access platform  4 . In this configuration, the vehicle comprises a single means of passage  11  suitable for allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between the movable plate  5  and a passenger area  6 . The other side of the platform  4  is, for example, joined directly to an end of the vehicle  1 . 
     In another variant, the vehicle comprises two passenger areas  6  and  6 ′, only one of which is equipped with a means of passage  11 . 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  show diagrammatically a longitudinal section of a railway vehicle  1  taken according to a cutting plane II-II shown in  FIG. 1 . The cutting plane II-II extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  1 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the access device  26  of the railway vehicle  1  when the movable plate  5  is in an initial position E 0 . In the initial position E 0 , the movable plate  5  is disposed at a height he 0  relative to the chassis  25  of the vehicle. 
     In that position, as is shown in  FIG. 2 , the movable plate  5  is coplanar with the movable floors  11 ,  11 ′ and the fixed floors  12 ,  12 ′ of the passenger zones  6  and  6 ′ disposed on each side of the access platform  4 . 
     When the movable plate  5  is in position E 0 , it allows a person with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle, without assistance, from a railway platform of height Q 0  which is less than Q 1 . 
     The movable plate in position E 0  is, for example, disposed at the same height as the railway platform of height Q 0  or at a different height, as will be seen in the following description. 
     The movable plate  5  is, for example, in position E 0  when the vehicle  1  arrives at a station whose railway platform  27  is at a height Q 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the railway vehicle  1  in which the movable plate  5  is in an embarkation position E 1 . 
     In order to allow persons with reduced mobility to embark/disembark easily from/to a railway platform  27  of height Q 1  which is greater than Q 0 , the movable plate  5  has been displaced vertically from a position E 0  at a height he 0  to an embarkation/disembarkation position E 1  at a height he 1 . The height he 1  of the movable plate  5  relative to the chassis  25  of the vehicle is greater than the height he 0 . 
     When the movable plate  5  is in the embarkation/disembarkation position E 1 , it is not coplanar with the portions of fixed floor  12  and  12 ′ of the passenger zones  6  and  6 ′, respectively. 
     When the movable plate  5  is in position E 1 , the movable floors  11  and  11 ′ providing the connection between the movable plate  5  and the fixed floors  12  and  12 ′, respectively, are sloping. The movable floors  11  and  11 ′ each form a downward longitudinal ramp between the end of the movable plate  5  to which they are joined and the end of the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′, respectively, to which they are joined. 
     The ramps formed by the movable floors  11  and  11 ′ between the fixed floors  12  and  12 ′, respectively, and the movable plate  5  allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the fixed floors  12  and  12 ′ from the movable plate  5  and vice versa. 
     The movable floors  11  and  11 ′ forming means of passages from the movable plate  5  to the fixed floors  12  and  12 ′ to which they are joined by way of the movable floor  3  therefore have the advantage of allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between the movable plate  5  and the circulation zones  8  even when the movable plate  5  is in an embarkation position E 1 , where i=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . r, in which it is not coplanar with the fixed floor zones  12  and  12 ′. 
       FIG. 4  shows the access device  26  when the movable plate  5  of the railway vehicle  1  is in a position E 2 . In the embarkation/disembarkation position E 2 , the movable plate  5  is disposed at a height he 2  relative to the chassis  25  of the vehicle. The height he 2  is greater than the height he 1  so as to allow persons with reduced mobility to gain access to the vehicle from a railway platform  27  of height Q 2  greater than Q 1 . 
     When the movable plate  5  is in position E 2 , the difference in height between the movable plate  5  and the fixed floors  12  and  12 ′ is greater than when the movable plate  5  is in position E 1 , and the longitudinal ramps formed by the movable floors  11  and  11 ′ therefore have steeper slopes than when the movable plate  5  is in position E 1 . 
     The invention has the advantage that steps are not formed between the movable plate  5  and that the movement of passengers in the vehicle  1  is not impeded when a person with reduced mobility boards said vehicle, because a person with reduced mobility who gains access to the movable plate  5  is not forced to wait for the movable plate  5  to be placed in position E 0  to be able to access the passenger zones  6  and  6 ′. Likewise, a person with reduced mobility who is located in a passenger zone  6  or  6 ′ does not have to wait for the movable plate  5  to be disposed at the same height as the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ before he can gain access to the movable plate  5 . 
     In addition, the fact that steps are not formed between a fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ of a passenger zone  6  or  6 ′ and the movable plate  5  reduces the risk of falling for persons with reduced mobility and for other users of the railway vehicle. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ is joined to the movable plate  5  by way of an articulated coupling x 2  or x′ 2  and is joined to the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ by way of an articulated coupling of axis x 1  or x′ 1 . 
     When the movable plate  5  is displaced vertically between an initial embarkation/disembarkation position E i  and an embarkation position E j , where i is different from j, the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ pivots relative to the movable plate  5  and to the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′, about axes x 2  and x 1  or x′ 2  and x′ 1 , so that the slope of the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ varies. 
     The movable floor  11  or  11 ′ comprises adjustment means  13  or  13 ′ which are capable of changing the length of said movable floor  11  or  11 ′. The movable floor  11  or  11 ′ has, for example, an extensible zone  13  or  13 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , allowing the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ to establish a permanent connection between the movable plate  5  and the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ when the slope of the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ varies. 
     In another embodiment, a movable floor  11  or  11 ′ is joined to the movable plate  5  by articulated coupling means and is capable of sliding beneath the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ when the movable plate  5  is displaced vertically. 
     The movable floor zones  11 ,  11 ′ are preferably sufficiently wide to allow persons with reduced mobility to move on those zones. 
     Advantageously, the length L separating the ends of the fixed floor  12  or  12 ′ and of the movable plate  5  that are joined by the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ is sufficient for the longitudinal ramp formed by the movable floor  11  or  11 ′ between those two ends to be always less than 10% and preferably less than 8% and more particularly from 4 to 8%, whatever the height of the embarkation position E i  of the movable plate  5 . The independent movement of persons with reduced mobility is in fact facilitated on small slopes. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show diagrammatically transverse sections of the vehicle, according to the vertical plane V-V, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is shown by a dotted line in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In  FIG. 5 , adjusting means  18  and  18 ′ have been shown in the rest position. 
     The access platform  4  comprises adjusting means  18  and  18 ′ which are suitable for facilitating the movement of passengers between the movable plate  5  and a railway platform  27  located opposite the adjusting means  18  or  18 ′. The adjusting means  18  and  18 ′ are capable of bringing the access platform  4  closer to a railway platform  27  by limiting the horizontal distance m and/or the vertical distance n separating the access platform  4  from a railway platform  27 . The adjusting means  18  and  18 ′ thus form a passage between a railway platform  27  and the movable plate  5 . 
     An adjusting means  18  or  18 ′ comprises a movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ which extends transversely between the movable plate  5  and a lateral access door  2  or  2 ′. 
     The movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ is capable of adjusting the vertical distance n between the access platform  4  and a railway platform  27  located opposite the face  2  or  2 ′. 
     The movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ is capable of pivoting relative to the movable plate  5  about a substantially horizontal axis y or y′ which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The axes y and y′ extend at the interface between the movable plate  5  and the movable pallets  19  and  19 ′. The axes y and y′ are therefore movable vertically with the movable plate  5 . 
     Pivoting of the movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ is permitted by means for coupling the movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ to the movable plate  5 , the coupling means being of the articulated or elastic or pivot type. 
     The adjusting means  18  or  18 ′ comprises a closure means  20  or  20 ′ capable of closing off a gap between the access platform  4  and a railway platform  27  which is disposed opposite the lateral access door  2  or  2 ′. The closure means  20  or  20 ′ is capable of reducing the vertical distance n and the horizontal distance m of the access platform  4  relative to the railway platform  27  disposed opposite the lateral access door  2  or  2 ′. 
     The closure means  20  or  20 ′ is fixed beneath the movable pallet  19  or  19 ′. The closure means  20  or  20 ′ is capable of being displaced between a retracted position, in which it is accommodated beneath the movable pallet  19  or  19 ′, and a deployed position, in which it projects from the vehicle and extends outside the vehicle between the vehicle  1  and a railway platform  27 . 
     The closure means  20  or  20 ′ moves from its retracted position to its deployed position by sliding along said movable pallet  19  or  19 ′ so as to project from the vehicle  1 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a vehicle stationed next to a railway platform  27 , the railway platform  27  being opposite a lateral access door  2 ′. There will now be described, in the following text, only the operation of the adjusting device  18 ′, which is located opposite the railway platform  27  of height Q 1 . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 5 , before the door  2 ′ is opened, the movable plate  5  is in an embarkation/disembarkation position E 1  and the adjusting device  18 ′ is in a rest position in which the movable pallet  19 ′ is coplanar with the movable plate  5  and in which the closure means  20  is disposed entirely beneath the movable pallet  19 ′. In that position, the access platform  4 , that is to say the end of the movable pallet  19 ′ facing the railway platform  27 , is located at a vertical distance n and a horizontal distance m from the railway platform  27 . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 6 , when the door  22 ′ is opened in order to allow the passengers to enter and leave the vehicle, the adjusting device  18 ′ is in an adjusting position in which the movable pallet  19 ′ is inclined relative to the movable plate  5  and the closure means  20 ′ is deployed and disposed as an extension of the movable pallet  19 ′. 
     The access platform  4  is positioned at a vertical distance n′ and a horizontal distance m′ from the railway platform  27 . The distances n′ and m′ are smaller than the distances n and m and are preferably less than 75 millimetres, which facilitates the movement of persons with reduced mobility between the railway platform  27  and the access platform  4 . 
     The adjusting means  18 ′ then forms a transverse ramp which extends between the movable plate  5  and the railway platform  27 . 
     The adjusting means  18  extending between the movable plate  5  and the lateral face  3  is in its rest position in  FIGS. 5 and 6  because it is not situated opposite an access platform  27 . 
     In an embodiment, the adjusting means  18 ′ can be used to limit the amplitude of the vertical movements of the movable plate  5  relative to a position E 0  in which it is coplanar with a movable floor  12 ,  12 ′. For example, the movable plate  5  can be disposed in an embarkation/disembarkation position E′ 1  at a height h′ 1  relative to the chassis  25  that is less than the height h 1  in order to allow passengers to gain access to the vehicle  1  from a railway platform  27  of height Q 1 . The distance between the railway platform  27  and the access platform  4  being reduced by the adjusting means  18 ′. 
     That embodiment has the advantage that it allows passengers to move between a railway platform  27  of height Q 1  and the access platform  4  while reducing the gradients of the ramps formed by a movable floor  11 ,  11 ′ between the movable plate  5  and a fixed floor  12 ,  12 ′ when the movable plate  5  is in an embarkation position E′ 1 , relative to a situation in which the movable plate  5  is in a position E 1 . 
     There will now be described a method which facilitates the access and exit of persons with reduced mobility to/from a vehicle  1  having a movable plate  5 , disposed in an embarkation/disembarkation position E 0 , and the movement of persons with reduced mobility inside the vehicle  1  when the vehicle  1  is stopped in a station having a railway platform  27  at a height Q 1 . 
     When the vehicle  1  is stopped in a station, the positioning of the access device  26  is activated by an activating means (not shown). The activating means comprises push-buttons disposed inside and outside the vehicle on the lateral faces close to the access doors. The push-buttons can be operated by a person with reduced mobility or by any other passenger. 
     In another embodiment, the means for activating the positioning of the access device  26  is, for example, a remote control or a control device disposed in the driver&#39;s cabin of the vehicle, which can be activated by a person with reduced mobility and by the driver of the vehicle  1 . 
     The means for activating the positioning of the access device  26  sends a command for positioning of the access device  26  to an on-board computer (not shown), which carries out the steps of the method described hereinbelow. 
     The vehicle  1  comprises a detection means  24  capable of detecting the railway platform  27 . The detection means  24  is, for example, an infrared beam, a camera or a laser. 
     When the command for activation of the access device is sent to the on-board computer  28 , the detection means  24  detects the railway platform  27  and transmits the information to a calculator  25 , which calculates the distance separating the platform  4  from the railway platform  27 . The calculator  25  calculates the best configuration of the access device  26  to allow optimum movement of persons with reduced mobility between the railway platform  27  and the passenger zones  6  and  6 ′. 
     The best arrangement of the access device  26  is a compromise in which the vertical position of the movable plate  5  and the position of the adjusting means  18 ,  18 ′ are chosen so that the distance from the access platform  4  to the railway platform  27  is minimal, and in which the ramps formed by the movable plate  5  and the movable floors  11  and  11 ′ do not exceed 8%. 
     Preferably, the gradients of the ramps formed by the adjusting means  18 ′, and more precisely by the movable pallet  19 ′ and the closure means  20 ′, do not exceed 8%. 
     The door  2 ′ opposite the railway platform  27  comprises a top leaf  22 ′ which is capable of being displaced in the longitudinal direction between a closed position and an open position in which passengers are able to enter and leave the vehicle. A bottom leaf  23 ′ extends beneath the top leaf  22 ′. The bottom leaf  23 ′ is suitable for pivoting about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis in such a manner as to exhibit a position in which it leaves an empty space between the top leaf  22 ′ and the bodywork of the vehicle, in order to allow positioning of the adjusting device  18 ′ in an adjusting position. 
     The calculator  25  transmits the information relating to the best arrangement of the access device to the on-board computer. 
     At the same time as calculating the best arrangement of the access device  26 , the calculator  25  orders the bottom leaf  23 ′ of the door  2 ′ to be lowered so as to leave the space free for the extension of the adjusting means  20 ′. 
     Given that, when the closure means is brought into a deployed position, it projects from the vehicle, between the vehicle and the railway platform, the on-board computer  28  combines the information coming from the calculator  25  with traction information so that it does not deploy the adjusting device  20 ′ when the vehicle is moving on the track. 
     This makes it possible to prevent the device  20 ′ from striking a railway platform  27 . 
     The on-board computer  28  orders the positioning of the access device  26  by the activation of means for driving the movable plate  5  and the adjusting means  18 ′ facing the railway platform  27 , in such a manner as to displace the movable plate  5  to an embarkation position E 1  and put the adjusting means  18 ′ in the adjusting position. The movable floor  11 ,  11 ′ is driven by the vertical movement of the movable plate  5 . 
     The drive means (not shown) are, for example, pneumatic, hydraulic or electric means. 
     Of course, the description made above also apply to a vehicle in which a means of passage  11  connects the movable plate  5  directly to one end of the vehicle. In that case, the fixed floor  12  is, for example, a floor located in the intercirculation zone or said end of the vehicle. 
     The comments made above also apply to a vehicle in which the floors  12  and  12 ′ disposed on each side of the access platform  4  extend at different heights relative to the chassis  25  of the vehicle  1 .