Summer 2026 has begun with a strong focus on accessibility for the UIC Passenger Department.
The season began in Dublin on 9 June 2026 with a conference dedicated to improving accessibility across transport systems, jointly organised by the AccessibleEU initiative, of which UIC is a member of the Advisory Board, and Ireland’s National Disability Authority. The event highlighted the growing complexity of accessibility challenges and the continuing impact of inaccessible transport for passengers with disabilities.
A central question shaped the discussions: How can we move from accessibility policies to accessibility in practice?
Representing UIC, Bertrand Minary, Passenger Director, emphasised the importance of international standards, interoperability, and cross-border cooperation. He presented the work of the Passenger Assistance System for Seamless Access and Guidance for Everyone (PASSAGE) expert group, which brings together more than 30 railway companies to improve accessibility across rail networks. Examples included the UIC Person with Reduced Mobility Assistance Booking Tool (PRM ABT), which facilitates assistance requests for international rail journeys across Europe, and the recently launched e-learning training course on accessibility in rail.
The conference highlighted a key principle: accessibility must be viewed as a seamless end-to-end journey rather than a series of isolated technical requirements. It also reinforced the need to design solutions that actively involve people with disabilities from the outset.
The focus then shifted to London, where Eurostar hosted the 57th PASSAGE meeting. For over a decade, the group has enabled railway companies to share best practices and develop common solutions to accessibility challenges.
The meeting placed a specific focus on hidden disabilities. With around 80% of disabilities not being immediately visible, recognising and responding appropriately to travellers’ needs continues to be a significant challenge for the transport sector. The importance of staff awareness, training, and respectful engagement was also emphasised during discussions.
Representatives from the “Just a Minute” (JAM) Card and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiatives also joined the meeting to present their approaches to supporting people with hidden disabilities. Participants discussed their experiences with measures designed to improve the travel experience of passengers with non-visible disabilities, and compared the different approaches to identification, communication, and assistance. The importance of voluntary and widely recognised schemes such as the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and the JAM Card in helping staff better understand passengers’ needs while promoting confidence and independence for travellers was also emphasised.
PASSAGE members then shared experiences from their own organisations, covering staff training, partnerships with disability associations, internal policies, and practical measures to better accommodate passengers whose support needs may not be immediately visible.
The meeting also marked an important transition for PASSAGE. After more than a decade of dedicated leadership, Paola Negri stepped down to take on new professional responsibilities. Members expressed their gratitude for her outstanding contribution to the international railway community and for her role in establishing PASSAGE as a leading forum for collaboration and innovation in accessibility.
Following a vote, a new leadership team was elected. Mauro Borsellino, Relations with Stakeholders Manager at the Italian Railway Network (RFI) was elected as Chair of PASSAGE, while Esther Buchmueller, Head of the Centre of Competence Accessibility & Inclusion at Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), was elected Vice-Chair.
Both are long-standing and highly engaged members of the group and will build on the strong foundation established by Negri, while bringing new perspectives to PASSAGE’s future work.
As accessibility gains an increased prominence across the transport sector, these events demonstrate the value of international cooperation, shared expertise, and meaningful engagement with users in delivering more inclusive travel experiences.
To learn more about PASSAGE, please visit the website: https://uic.org/projects-99/article/passage.
