A Universal Commuter Railcar Boarding Device for Use by Both Disabled and Able-bodied Individuals Configurable for all U.S. Railstation Platforms

SAFE proposes to design and develop a boarding device for heavy rail passenger cars. The boarding system will enable the loading of all passengers regardless of mobility from a wide range of platform configurations. Once installed on a passenger railcar, that car can be used with any of four platform configurations: high level platforms close to the car, high level platforms with partial setback for standard freight clearance, low platforms for full dimensional freight clearance, and an new high level platform configuration that allows both full dimensional freight clearance and level loading of passengers. The fitting of all passenger cars with the proposed device would enable the level loading of all passengers on a commuter rail line while retaining full freight service. Yet these same cars will remain usable on lines retaining the old still high and low level platforms. Phase I proposes to develop the concept in detail and simulate its operation in order to demonstrate feasibility and to quantify the reduction in station dwell time compared to low platform operations. An operational prototype will be built and demonstrated in Phase II.