Has the accessible carriage become a bicycle storage? The reality of train travel for the disabled

If an ordinary passenger arrives at a train station and discovers that an elevator is not working, they will probably find another way to reach the platform. But what happens to a passenger in a wheelchair? For them, a broken elevator can simply close the way to the train. And if the assistance that was coordinated in advance is not waiting for them, they might find themselves forced to look for another station.

The editorial desk has received reports from passengers who say that in order to travel by train, they need to coordinate in advance with an employee or inspector for assistance. Sometimes the coordination is forgotten, sometimes something goes wrong, and upon arrival at the station, they are forced to improvise. In cases where the elevator is not working, the solution can simply be to travel to another station in the hope that the situation there will be better.

Then they reach the carriage that is supposed to solve the problem — the accessible carriage. As Adv. Liron Abeli, an attorney for accessibility and real estate, tells us, this is one of the biggest problems. It turns out that the carriage intended for accessibility is also intended for bicycles and scooters. During rush hours, this combination can turn the carriage into a crowded space where bicycles and scooters take up the room that is supposed to allow a passenger in a wheelchair to position themselves and move safely.

In some cases, passengers report, bicycles and scooters are tied to railings, blocking part of the passage. The result is quite absurd: there is a carriage defined as accessible, but the way to it and inside it can be blocked precisely because of the uses allowed within it.

Adv. Abeli also highlights cases where, in single-deck trains, the problem is felt especially acutely. "The narrow and long passage can turn into an obstacle course, and passengers in wheelchairs may remain near the door throughout the trip. Access to accessible toilets also becomes complicated, and it is claimed that there are no suitable locking mechanisms for wheelchairs. There is no answer to this. People block passages with scooters and bicycles, block toilets. There is no supervision and no help; disabled people are left helpless in the passages."

The problem starts even before boarding: payment and validation machines are not always accessible to passengers in wheelchairs or people of short stature, so even purchasing a ticket may require help from another person. As early as 2019, Israel Railways announced it would work to prohibit the tying of bicycles and scooters in the accessible carriage. In practice, according to complaints received, the phenomenon still exists.

Ultimately, it is not just a question of accessibility. If a passenger needs to check that the elevator is working, coordinate an inspector, ensure there is no blockage in the carriage, and prepare an alternative plan in case something goes wrong — how much is it really public transport that is open to everyone?

Adv. Abeli adds: "Following a long period of inquiries and documentation by passengers, I submitted to the management of Israel Railways a focused and practical document, anchored in the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law and accessibility regulations for public transport. It includes defined requirements: a dedicated carriage not used simultaneously for bicycles and scooters; a trip coordination mechanism that works in practice, not just on paper; proper and safe boarding equipment on platforms; the presence of an inspector in the carriage throughout the trip; and payment machines that can be operated from a wheelchair."

The railway management held a public round table, during which the company's CEO committed to carrying out changes by the beginning of 2026. The meeting took place more than a year and a half ago, the deadline passed about eight months ago, and the promised changes have not been carried out. A meeting is not a result, and a declaration is not accessibility.

"I will continue to act on the matter until the travel experience is truly equal in practice."

Israel Railways' response: "Israel Railways is the most accessible public transport means, and only recently a record of trips by passengers with disabilities was broken with 8,800 passengers in July. We ask our passengers who need assistance to coordinate the trip in advance through the various service channels for better preparation and optimal service. A check we conducted revealed that when the passenger arrived without coordination, there was a point failure in the elevator, which was repaired after a short time. The passenger was offered service alternatives such as a special taxi."