As on 31.03.15, disabled friendly coaches with wider entrance doors for wheelchair access are more than 5% of total holding of Indian Railway coaches. It is endeavoured to provide at least one such disabled friendly coach in Mail & Express trains.

Second Class cum luggage and brake van with PWD (Persons with Disabilities) Compartment coaches and Power Cars for Garib Rath trains having provisions for PWD Compartment with air-conditioning are already in service. In these coaches, mobility-impaired person may require help for boarding.

However, accessibility to trains from low-level platforms has been identified as one of the challenge areas under ‘Navrachna-Innovation’ initiative.

For assistance to visually impaired travellers as well as those with normal vision, integrated Braille signages, i.e., signages superimposed with Braille scripts are being provided on newly manufactured coaches. Retrofitment on existing coaches has also been taken up in a phased manner.

Hearing impaired travelers with normal vision can also make use of these integrated Braille signages.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 02.03.2016 (Wednesday).