Barrier-free platform elevators in transportation hubs reflect travel changes and humanistic care

At the moment when the modern transportation system is booming, transportation hubs, as key nodes of personnel flow, bear huge passenger pressure. From busy airports to bustling train stations, to efficient subway stations, a large number of passengers shuttle through them every day. Among this huge flow of people, there are some special groups, who are either disabled people with limited mobility, elderly and frail elderly people, or passengers dragging heavy luggage. The emergence of barrier-free platform elevators, like a bridge, crosses the many obstacles on their travel path, brings great convenience to their passage in transportation hubs, and becomes an indispensable part of transportation facilities. ​
Airport: Crossing distance and connecting the world’s care
As an important gateway for international and domestic transportation, the degree of perfection of airport facilities directly affects passengers’ first impression of a city or even a country. For disabled passengers in wheelchairs or elderly people with limited mobility, the vast area and complex functional divisions of the airport often make travel difficult. Barrier-free platform elevators play a key role here.​
Take Beijing Daxing International Airport as an example. This modern aviation hub has placed barrier-free facilities in an important position during its planning and construction. The airport is equipped with a sufficient number of barrier-free platform elevators that are reasonably distributed. From the moment passengers enter the airport, from the terminal entrance to the check-in counter, to the security area, the waiting area and the boarding gate, each section of the journey is connected by barrier-free elevators. These elevator cabins are spacious enough to accommodate wheelchairs and accompanying personnel, ensuring that wheelchair users can enter and exit freely. The operating buttons in the elevator are at an appropriate height, with Braille signs and voice prompts for the convenience of visually impaired people. In the process of going from the waiting area to the boarding gate, you may need to cross a long corridor and go up and down different floors. The barrier-free elevator makes this process easy and smooth. Even passengers with large luggage can use the elevator to quickly reach the designated area, avoiding the trouble of carrying heavy objects up and down the stairs. ​
In addition, the airport also uses intelligent technology to link barrier-free elevators with passengers' itinerary information. For example, when disabled passengers report their itinerary in advance through the airline or airport service hotline, the system will automatically plan an optimal route that includes the use of barrier-free elevators and send relevant information to the passenger's mobile phone. After the passenger arrives at the airport, the operating status of the elevator can also be displayed in real time on the mobile phone application, which is convenient for passengers to arrange their time reasonably and reduce waiting anxiety. This combination of intelligence and barrier-free facilities not only improves the travel experience of special passengers, but also highlights the refinement and humanity of airport services. ​
Railway station: smooth journey, warm way home ​
Railway stations, especially large high-speed rail hubs, are important distribution centers for domestic passengers to travel long distances. Every day, a large number of passengers gather and transfer here. For special groups, barrier-free platform elevators are an important guarantee for them to embark on their journey or return home safely. ​
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, as one of the important high-speed rail hubs in my country, has remarkable barrier-free facilities. Each entrance of the railway station is equipped with obvious barrier-free passage signs to guide passengers with limited mobility to barrier-free elevators. These elevators not only lead to the waiting hall, but are also closely connected to the underground parking lot and various platforms. During peak passenger flow periods such as the Spring Festival travel rush, train stations are crowded with people, and barrier-free elevators open up a relatively independent and safe passage for special passengers. Passengers in wheelchairs can quickly reach the platform from the ground through the elevator without worrying about being hit by the crowded crowd. In addition, train station staff will strengthen the inspection and maintenance of barrier-free elevators to ensure their normal operation. At the same time, in order to deal with possible emergencies, such as elevator failures, the station has also formulated emergency plans and arranged special personnel to assist special passengers to reach their destinations through other backup channels. ​
In the waiting area of ​​the train station, a special waiting area is usually set up near the barrier-free elevator, equipped with comfortable seats and charging facilities, so that special passengers can rest while waiting for the train. Some train stations also post train timetables, platform distribution diagrams and other information in the elevator car to facilitate passengers to understand the travel information in advance and plan their trips reasonably. For passengers who need to transfer, barrier-free elevators are the key to achieving rapid conversion between different lines and platforms, greatly saving transfer time and improving travel efficiency.​
Subway station: efficient travel, integrated into the pulse of the city​
In the urban public transportation system, the subway has become the first choice for many citizens to travel with its high efficiency and punctuality. For the disabled and the elderly living in the city, barrier-free platform elevators are their "magic weapon" to integrate into urban life and travel conveniently. ​
In the process of the continuous expansion of the Shenzhen Metro network, the construction of barrier-free facilities is promoted simultaneously. At present, most stations of the Shenzhen Metro are equipped with barrier-free platform elevators, which realize barrier-free connection between the station hall and the platform, and between the ground and the station hall. In terms of design, these elevators fully consider the spatial layout and passenger flow characteristics of the subway station. For example, in some transfer stations, in order to facilitate passengers to quickly transfer between different lines, the location of barrier-free elevators is set at the key nodes of the transfer channel, and multiple elevators are operated in linkage, which effectively alleviates the passenger flow pressure during peak hours. ​
The barrier-free elevators in the subway station are also very standardized in operation and management. There are eye-catching signs at the elevator entrance, indicating the direction of the elevator, service floor and other information. At the same time, the subway station staff will regularly clean and maintain the elevator to ensure its safe and smooth operation. In order to improve passengers' awareness and efficiency of barrier-free elevators, Shenzhen Metro also publishes barrier-free facility usage guides through official websites, social media and other channels, introducing the location, usage methods and relevant precautions of barrier-free elevators. At some stations, volunteers will also be arranged to provide guidance and help to passengers who use barrier-free elevators for the first time. ​
The importance of barrier-free platform elevators ​
In transportation hubs, the widespread use of barrier-free platform elevators has many important significances. From a social perspective, it reflects the society's care and respect for special groups and is an important symbol of social civilization and progress. Allowing people with disabilities, the elderly and other mobility-impaired people to travel freely and conveniently like other ordinary passengers and participate in social life has greatly enhanced their sense of social identity and belonging. ​
From the perspective of transportation hub operation and management, perfect barrier-free facilities help improve overall operational efficiency. By providing convenient passage conditions for special groups, congestion and chaos that may be caused by their difficulty in passing can be reduced, ensuring the orderly operation of the entire transportation hub. At the same time, good barrier-free facility construction can also improve the service quality of transportation hubs, attract more passengers to choose the hub for travel, and enhance its competitiveness in the transportation market.