Under a federal action plan for people with disabilities, drawn up by Social Integration Minister Karine Lalieux (PS), it will take until 2032 for a mere 176 out of 550 Belgian train stations to become accessible to wheelchair users, according to Vlaams Belang parliamentarian Ellen Samyn.
This is “far too late and far too few,” says Samyn, who raised this concern with the minister in writing.
One of the main measures of the federal Disability Action Plan 2021-2024 was to make train stations more accessible for wheelchair users. However, Samyn says, “the new 2023-2032 management contract with the SNCB is indequate.”
“The goal is to make only 176 stations accessible to people with limited mobility by 2032, which is merely one out of three stations,” the legislator explains.
The Vlaams Belang parliamentarian is calling on national railway company SNCB and the federal government to step up their efforts.
“Due to limited access to public transport, many wheelchair users are excluded from a full social life or fair employment opportunities,” Samyn noted.
