Steep steps, wide gaps make train travel a challenge for elderly, differently abled

Passengers have sought the Railways’ intervention to make train footboards safer. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh Despite the State’s ongoing efforts to create barrier-free surroundings for persons with disabilities, some long-distance and local trains continue to pose serious accessibility challenges, with steep and unsafe steps making boarding and alighting difficult, particularly for elderly and differently abled passengers. Complaints from senior citizens’ forums and various railway passengers’ associations have so far failed to bring about a change.Many passengers have to seek the support of fellow passengers to board or alight from trains. During peak hours, their slow entry and exit interrupt the smooth movement of other passengers waiting to board. Those travelling with heavy luggage also find it difficult to negotiate the steps.“The senior railway officers are yet to conduct a thorough inspection of the situation, though they frequently audit other safety measures. We feel that the new coaches are also being built without considering the needs of elderly people,” says K. Mohandas, a member of the All-Kerala Railway Passengers Association. He adds that the risk of slipping and falling increases during the rainy season and rush hours.Passengers have also flagged the wider gaps between footboards and platforms, which make them difficult to navigate. They say a team of engineers will have to re-inspect the footboard designs for any flaws in execution. The gaps are dangerously wide at some stations due to changes in platform construction.“As most of the trains have old coaches, it may not be practical to change all the footboards at once. What we seek is the possibility of gradual replacement in such a way as to make the railways elderly- and differently abled-friendly,” says Abhilash Thekkel, a differently abled passenger from Feroke. He points out that at least three or four coaches on a train can be considered for the redesign of footboards.Women passengers have also complained about the “risky footboards” on some trains, saying they increase the risk of slipping and falling. Semeena Mujaeeb, a frequent traveller from Kozhikode city, says mothers travelling with young children face considerable difficulties negotiating the “inaccessible” steps.Meanwhile, railway officials say they are unable to take an immediate decision, as train footboards are designed to be narrow to maintain structural clearance and prevent trains from hitting station platforms. They add that several passengers have raised the same issue and that it will be brought to the attention of higher authorities for possible action. Published - October 22, 2026 07:00 am IST