On Wednesday, 22 September 2021, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) held the first meeting of the Study Group on Barrier-Free Standards for Public Transport in FY2021.

The MLIT has set out Barrier-Free Transport Standards and Guidelines for Facilitating the Movement of Passengers, Vehicles and Services in Public Transport based on the Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation for the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, etc. (Barrier-Free Act). The Study Group has reviewed these Guidelines in response to changed social conditions and technological improvements.

In the last fiscal year, the study group reviewed:

1. Standards for the service provision (intangible standards).
2. New accessibility measures for the Shinkansen.
3. Guiding methods for people with visual impairment to use escalators.

In the current fiscal year, they are to study:

1. Appropriate guiding methods for people with visual impairment (including assistance to use escalators).
2. Accessibility measures for limited express trains.

For more information, please visit the website below (Japanese).
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/sogo09_hh_000308.html