Re: Flexity tram enters passenger service in Wien
  Prescott

The typical fold-out (or electro/hydraulic, e.g. Perth) wheelchair ramp in
trams and buses isn't designed to go down to the ground. It would be too
long to fit if it was to comply with the required gradient. It's designed
to bridge to a kerb (or a standard European bus and tram platform) which is
typically about 150 mm high off the ground. To bridge to the ground from a
typical 300 mm high tram doorway you need a wheelchair lift:

http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/InnoTrans_2010_Skoda_interior_7_sm.jpg

On the other hand, our accomplished friends at PETS at Whiteman Park have
obviously taken a leaf from the ferry handbook and built a "wharf" and
gangway!

http://www.historyworks.com.au/W1017e.jpg

Tony P

On Friday, 14 December 2018 08:52:37 UTC+11, Matthew Geier wrote:
>

> On 14/12/18 8:37 am, Prescott wrote:

> >

> >

> > The Bombardier also has a wheelchair ramp but the driver has a little

> > further to walk to operate it than in the ULF.

> >

> We have discovered at Loftus that the wheel chair ramps on the Variotram

> are actually useless to us - they obviously are intended only to bridge

> between the tram and half-height platforms in the street sections, they

> don't reach from the tram to the ground/road.

>

> We did discover that a bridging plate we bought for getting wheel chairs

> and 'mobility challenged' people onto trams at the 'back platform' is a

> near perfect fit. This ramp won't fit behind the drivers seat though.

>

>