In general, braille signage is a good thought. But it cannot alone make a train, or even the railway system accessible for blind and partially sighted people. For instance, there are only a small percentage of blind people who can actually read and understand braille. That's why, braille needs to be accompanied by tactile embossed letters which are large with enough contrast for partially sighted passengers to see. Braille signage for seat numbers is a bit tricky and is not really of great value. This also raises the question of coach number. I don't think coach numbers are fixed and so they cannot have braille signage.
There is the wider issue of navigating through a train station to get to your train in the first place. How do you get from the outside of the station to platform 10 or whatever the train is leaving from? How do you know where the edge of the platform is. How do you know where the entrances doors to the coaches may be. How do you find the location of the footbridge/ramp/lift in the station? On a train that has a number of stops, how do you know when you have reached your destination (without asking fellow passengers)? Braille is a good initial start but calling it the accessible train is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Let us hope that this is not the only step that Indian Railways are going to take. How about assistance for people with disabilities on and off the trains? Indian Railways is the largest employer in the world if I am not mistaken and so there should be enough staff to do it. Kiran On Wed, Jan 27, 2016 at 4:39 PM, Kanchan Pamnani <[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry Tilak, you are not visualising the situation. Please think of > Braille in trains and where it can be used keeping in mind India's trains > and passengers and social issues. > It is impractical on compartments and over berths. You are from Mumbai or > from near by if I am not mistaken. You are aware of the gaps between the > platform and the compartment. > You are also aware of the dirt and filth on the sides inside the > compartment. > So please lets look at the issue whether this initiative is worthwhile or > not. . I am not questioning Braille but only questioning whether it should > be on train compartments and near berths. > Kanchan > -----Original Message----- > From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Tilakprasad Joshi > Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 9:34 PM > To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning > the disabled. > Subject: Re: [AI] India's 1st Blind-friendly Train Runs Between Mysuru, > Varanasi > > I don't see any wrong by having Braille Signage and I feel Braille has > to be there with other alternative, it is up to the person what he/she > prefers, there is nothing wrong suggesting Braille as an option. > > Warm Regards, > Tilak. > > On 1/27/16, George Abraham <[email protected]> wrote: > > We all know who the Govt consults! > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf > > Of Kanchan Pamnani > > Sent: 27 January 2016 21:11 > > To: 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerning > > the disabled.' > > Subject: Re: [AI] India's 1st Blind-friendly Train Runs Between Mysuru, > > Varanasi > > > > I had the pleasure of telling the railway Board Chairman that Braille > was a > > bad idea in compartments and on the train when I met him at the NCDEPD > > meeting in December in Delhi. He turned around and told me that it had > been > > recommended by one of our groups and it had come as a suggestion from our > > sector and that they would not have done it without consulting with the > > Visually Impaired. > > So which Delhi based organisation wants to claim the credit for this > > accessibility stunt? > > Let someone have the guts to own up to this. > > Kanchan > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf > > Of George Abraham > > Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 7:25 PM > > To: 'AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerning > > the disabled.' > > Subject: Re: [AI] India's 1st Blind-friendly Train Runs Between Mysuru, > > Varanasi > > > > Brailee is very in books and on paper. In public spaces Braille is a very > > bad idea. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf > > Of [email protected] > > Sent: 27 January 2016 19:22 > > To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues > concerning > > the disabled. > > Subject: Re: [AI] India's 1st Blind-friendly Train Runs Between Mysuru, > > Varanasi > > > > With due respect, I think this is not really helpful. Article does not > talk > > about any feature other than Braille signage. > > > > Does railways guarantee the cleanliness of train? > > > > Regards, > > Srinivasu Chakravarthula | @csrinivasu > > Sent from my iPhone 5C > > > >> On 27-Jan-2016, at 16:25, Monica Eyeway <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> The New Indian Express > >> > >> MYSURU: The visually challenged-friendly Mysuru railway station has now > >> added one more feather in its cap. > >> > >> The country’s first visually challenged-friendly train runs between it > and > >> Varanasi. > >> > >> The bi-weekly train in fitted with metal Braille signage to help the > >> visually challenged locate coaches, seats, alarm chains, toilets and > >> emergency windows. > >> > >> The Mysuru division of the South Western Railway wants to extend the > >> facility to Mysuru-Talaguppa, Mysuru-Tirupati, Mysore -Mayilatuthurai > >> Express trains before March end. > >> > >> Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal said the introduction of Braille > >> signage in coaches is in line with his concern for the visually > >> challenged. > >> > >> “I can see many of the visually challenged struggle and ask people for > >> directions to ticket counters, platforms, railway coaches and seats”, he > >> said. Lal said it took Rs 2 lakh and two months to get the train fitted > >> with Braille signage by a Bengaluru-based company. > >> > >> “I will see that this is done (in three other trains) before March-end > >> using Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund’, he said. > >> > >> Mohan, a visually challenged person, lauded the railways for the > measure. > >> > >> He said one can travel in the train alone without assistance from others > >> and hoped that it would be implemented in all trains in the country. > >> > >> The Mysuru railway station had recently installed navigation maps in > >> Braille to guide the visually impaired to reach platforms. > >> > >> *Terminal at Kadakola* > >> > >> SWR Divisional Manager Rajkumar Lal said a proposal has been sent to > >> establish a terminal with six platforms near Kadakola between Mysuru and > >> Nanjangud at a cost of Rs 67 crore. > >> > >> He said a terminal at Kengeri would also help run a few more trains > >> between > >> Bengaluru and Mysuru. > >> > >> The railway division has also sought one more train between Mysuru and > >> Tirupati and two more express trains between Mysuru and Benglauru that > >> would run 30 minutes behind Chamundi Express. > >> > >> > http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Indias-1st-Blind-friendly-Train-Runs-Between-Mysuru-Varanasi/2016/01/26/article3245648.ece > >> > >> *What is new* > >> > >> - Mysuru-Varansi train is the first completely visually > >> challenged-friendly in the country > >> - Metal Braille signage installed to help locate berth numbers, > >> toilets and emergency doors > >> - Three more trains likely to have similar facilities before March > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> *Its highly commendable that the government bodies and policy makers are > >> thinking inclusive by putting up braille signages in the train and the > >> Railway Station. While we appreciate the thought and effort, we need to > >> think is it actually a solution that the visually impaired citizens of > the > >> country would benefit from ? Please share your views on the same.* > >> > >> *Meanwhile, here is what Mr. George Abraham has to say on this > initiative. > >> * > >> > >> *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kuEK6zvgE > >> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kuEK6zvgE>* > >> > >> > >> > >> Regards > >> Monica Verma > >> Communications Officer > >> Score Foundation > >> > >> Website: www.eyeway.org www.scorefoundation.org.in > >> Eyeway Helpdesk: 1800-300-20469 > >> > >> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projecteyeway/ > >> > >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > >> mobile phones / Tabs on: > >> > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > >> > >> > >> Search for old postings at: > >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > >> > >> To unsubscribe send a message to > >> [email protected] > >> with the subject unsubscribe. > >> > >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > >> please visit the list home page at > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > >> > >> > >> Disclaimer: > >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > >> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its > >> veracity; > >> > >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails > >> sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Search for old postings at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to > > [email protected] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > > visit the list home page at > > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Disclaimer: > > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails > > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Search for old postings at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to > > [email protected] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > > visit the list home page at > > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Disclaimer: > > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails > > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Search for old postings at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to > > [email protected] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > > visit the list home page at > > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Disclaimer: > > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails > > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Search for old postings at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to > > [email protected] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > > visit the list home page at > > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Disclaimer: > > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the > > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails > > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
