Accessible Rail Travel Retrofit Mandated in Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada handed down a ruling that will have a positive impact on Inclusive Tourism by rail.

A Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) mandate dating back to 2000 to Via Rail was behind the suit of the plaintiff the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). The Court's ruling was 5-4 in favour.

The ruling was welcomed by Pat Danforth of the CCD. "This decision puts Canada back on the map when it comes to access and travel for people with disabilities." It also may help any traveller struggling for access in the coaches, such as parents with children in strollers.

Before buying the Renaissance cars, VIA used its business-class cars for passengers with wheelchairs.

But in those cars, "personal wheelchairs could not be used anywhere." None of the three washrooms was wheelchair accessible. There was a "wheelchair tie-down" mechanism, but the space allocated for it would not accommodate a standard wheelchair.