Our Commitment to Accessibility
The Yarra Trams vision of "access for all" is to change Melbourne's tram system so that disabled and mobility-impaired passengers who use wheelchairs can safely and easily negotiate the public transport network.
As part of our commitment, Yarra Trams operates 36 low floor Citadis trams, 59 low floor Combino trams and 5 low floor 'Bumblebee' trams on some of the busiest routes in the network. These low floor trams, combined with a growing number of platform tram stops, are helping us to realise our vision.
Under the terms of our contract with the State Government of Victoria, Yarra Trams has prepared a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Action Plan. The Plan is based on the Department Of Infrastructure's (DOI) DDA Action Plan prepared in 1998. The structure and much of the detail, including the background and discussion have been incorporated into this document to ensure that our management has a clear understanding of the issues and history leading up to the Plan's development.
It sets out the measures that have already been implemented to improve accessibility to trams and describes the progress and future intentions of Yarra Trams. It also recognises that Yarra Trams is compelled, under the franchise agreement clauses, to operate in a way that meets the objectives of the DDA and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.
Other clauses included in the franchise agreement are discussed in this document. These clauses are designed to:
- Allow the maximum opportunity for operator initiative and innovation consistent with the need for system-wide approaches to some matters.
- Provide for operators to cooperate with each other and Public Transport Director to achieve accessibility improvements.
- Ensure the programming/priority of accessibility works is undertaken on the basis of comprehensive benefit/cost considerations and takes due account of long-term objectives.
- Provide enforcement mechanisms.
The Action Plan includes discussion of the range of measures being taken in regard to the areas covered by disability standards, such as access through infrastructure, vehicle boarding and information dissemination.
In summary, the broad principles underlying this Action Plan are:
- An intention to continue with the approach to accessibility improvement in Victoria as was set out in the DOI Action Plan (1998).
- An understanding that accessibility measures are to be adopted for the long term and that the 30-year compliance schedule provided by the Draft Standards (for Trams) allows for informed selection of the best solutions and progressive adoption of those solutions.
- A commitment to consolidate programs introduced prior to the franchise contracts of public transport.
Please click here to view a copy of the Yarra Trams DDA Action Plan 2007-2010. (PDF 188KB)
For a copy of our Accessibility Guide, please click here.