A complaint to the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 2017 leads to rectifying the problem and transforming the way transport projects are being implemented from the outset.
In 2017 a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) complaint was made to the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (AHREOC) regarding the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) trains. In 2018, the New Generation Rollingstock Train Commission of Inquiry was appointed to make an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the procurement of trains that failed to comply with the disability legislation and functional requirements.
Architecture & Access were engaged by Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) to audit the train and in consultation with the newly formed NGR Accessibility Working Group (AWG), comprising of people with a lived experience of disability and organisational representatives, to address the issues for compliance, accessibility and functionality. Two of the main issues were the design of allocated spaces and the size of the toilet module.
Our role:
- Review the existing and proposed unisex accessible toilet module;
- Review of existing and proposed access paths between the two middle cars from allocated space to the toilet and side car doors;
- Review of existing and proposed seating and allocated spaces on the train;
What we did:
We provided design reviews and participated in a co-design process with the AWG, led by DTMR NGR project team to assess the compliance of the toilet module and allocated seating layouts through engagement with the disability sector to “test” mock-ups of what could be achieved to meet technical and functional compliance, before embarking on the upgrade process. As a result of this, the designs were accepted and implemented into the upgrade of the 75 trains of the NGR fleet.
On Tuesday 30th July, Patricia Flores, (Access Leader Queensland) attended an event that marked the completion of the NGR Fleet upgrade program and the roll out of 75 more accessible and functional trains on the network. The event was inaugurated by the Premier Steven Miles who also interviewed Kevin on one of the upgraded trains. Kevin is a member of the AWG and an avid user of the train service and with the Premier provided a visual description of the improvements made. Interview link
The lessons learnt from this project have highlighted that a co-design process can yield best practice outcomes for all passengers. These learnings and many more have now been adopted and implemented from the beginning of transport projects in Queensland including Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail. Architecture & Access fulfills an ongoing accessibility advisory role on all of these projects.
In August 2023 Architecture & Access published an article ‘Co-Design Major Transport Projects Queensland – what is Co-Design and what role does an access consultant have?’. This article explains co-design and how it is different to consultation.
Feature image: John and Karen Lovelace (Father and Sister of the late Wendy Lovelace), Sarah Hartley – Vision Australia and Patricia Flores (Access Leader QLD at Architecture & Access)
Wendy Lovelace had a major role in the successful public campaign to hold the Queensland Government to account for their procurement of a new fleet of inaccessible trains.
