On 13/04/2017 1:23 PM,mcloughlin.dj@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
>

> A non-resident expert on Wellington's Designline trolley buses keeps denying they are low-floor and repeatedly claims they are "low-entrance" only.

>

It seems to me that we have a problem of definition here - and that the formal definitions suggested by Tony P are just as prone to mis-undestanding as most 'short cuts' in terminology.

Here's what Tony P said:
"Perhaps there's a little issue of understanding industry terminology involved - and it's the same for trams as it is for buses. Low floor means that the whole gangway (that is the aisle and door thresholds) are stepless from front to back of the vehicle. Low entry (also once referred to as part-low floor) means that the gangway is stepless only in that area serving the doors, while the rest of the vehicle is high floor. An example of a low entry tram is the Adelaide Flexity and an example of a low floor tram is the Adelaide Citadis. Use of a common language usually resolves misunderstanding."

So here's a pic of the interior of an Adelaide Flexity.
http://tdu.to/105_interior_16Mar2017.jpg

As you can clearly see, and as Tony says, there is a step up into the part of the tram over the poweerd trucks in the end section.
BUT there are quite a few seats that you can sit on with your feet on the floor level you entered at.

Here's the interior of an Adelaide Citadis.
http://tdu.to/202_interior_20Mar2017.jpg

The entry floor level runs through the whole of the tram - in the aisles.
BUT there are only a few car side seats that are accessible without climbing onto a fairly high plinth.

Mal Rowe - who reckons the simple definitions just don't help in describing practical accessibilty.