EU Rail Boosts PRM Access: New Info Standard EN 16584-2

A Technical Guide to EN 16584-2: Accessible Information for PRM in Railway Applications

EN 16584-2 is a European Standard that specifies the requirements for providing information to Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) within the railway environment. As Part 2 of the EN 16584 series, its focus is exclusively on the ‘Information’ aspect, ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their physical or sensory abilities, can access, understand, and use travel information effectively and independently.

This standard is a critical tool for railway operators, manufacturers, and infrastructure managers to ensure their information systems are compliant with accessibility regulations and provide an equitable travel experience. It works in conjunction with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (TSI PRM).

Core Objectives and Principles

The fundamental goal of EN 16584-2 is to remove barriers to information. It is built upon several key principles to achieve this:

• Consistency: Information should be presented in a uniform and predictable way across the entire journey, from planning at home to arrival at the destination.
• Clarity: Information must be simple, unambiguous, and easy to understand. This involves using standardized pictograms, clear language, and logical layouts.
• Accessibility: The standard mandates a multi-sensory approach, ensuring information is available in visual, audible, and sometimes tactile formats.
• Perceptibility: The design of information systems must account for various sensory abilities, including requirements for contrast, character size, volume levels, and clarity of speech.

Key Technical Requirements of EN 16584-2

The standard delves into specific technical details for different modes of information delivery. These requirements are precise and form the basis for designing and auditing accessible railway systems.

Visual Information

Visual information is the most common form of communication in railway environments. EN 16584-2 provides detailed specifications for its implementation:

• Signage and Pictograms: The standard mandates the use of internationally recognized pictograms, primarily from ISO 7001, to ensure immediate comprehension. It specifies requirements for sign placement, height, and illumination.
• Character Height and Font: Text on signs and displays must meet minimum character height requirements, which are calculated based on the viewing distance. The use of clear, sans-serif fonts is required to maximize legibility.
• Contrast Ratios: A critical technical aspect is the luminance contrast between text/symbols and their background. The standard specifies minimum Light Reflectance Value (LRV) differences to ensure readability for people with visual impairments. For example, a contrast of at least 70% is often required.
• Passenger Information Displays (PIDs): For electronic displays, the standard covers aspects like minimum character size, refresh rates to avoid flickering, and appropriate use of colour and contrast that remains effective even in bright sunlight or low-light conditions.

Audible Information

Audible announcements are essential for passengers with visual impairments and for providing real-time updates to all passengers. The technical requirements are focused on clarity and intelligibility.

• Public Address (PA) Systems: Announcements must be clear, delivered at a consistent pace, and have a volume that is sufficiently above the ambient noise level.
• Speech Transmission Index (STI): The standard references the STI as a key performance metric for the intelligibility of PA systems. An STI value of at least 0.5 is generally required in public spaces to ensure that spoken messages can be clearly understood.
• Automated Announcements: For automated systems (both on-board trains and at stations), the standard specifies the structure and content of messages to ensure consistency. This includes, for example, the order in which station names, platform numbers, and service information are announced.
• Induction Loops: To assist passengers with hearing aids, the standard requires the installation of induction loop systems at key information points like ticket counters and help points, as well as in designated areas of rolling stock.

Tactile and Haptic Information

Tactile information provides a non-visual means of accessing key information and controls.

• Braille and Embossed Text: Key signs, such as those for toilets or platform numbers, and controls like call-for-aid buttons or lift controls, must include tactile information in the form of embossed characters and Braille.
• Tactile Maps: At major interchange stations, the provision of tactile station maps can be required to help visually impaired passengers navigate the environment independently.

Relationship with the TSI PRM

EN 16584-2 is a “harmonised standard” under the European Union’s interoperability directive. This is a crucial technical and legal distinction. It means that by following the specifications outlined in EN 16584-2, a manufacturer or operator can claim a “presumption of conformity” with the relevant essential requirements of the Technical Specification for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (TSI PRM). In essence, EN 16584-2 provides the detailed “how-to” guide for meeting the legal accessibility information requirements set out in the TSI PRM.

Summary of Information Requirements

The following table provides a high-level comparison of the different information types and their core technical requirements as covered by the standard.

Conclusion

EN 16584-2 is more than a set of guidelines; it is a foundational technical standard for creating an inclusive and accessible European railway network. By specifying the technical details for the design and implementation of information systems, it ensures that all PRM passengers are empowered with the information they need to travel safely, confidently, and independently. Compliance with this standard is not only a legal obligation under the TSI PRM but also a commitment to providing a higher quality of service for all passengers.