The Slovene Railway has recently started to adapt and fulfil the needs of persons with physical disabilities. In the past and even today our company still uses classic equipment - carts with steps that present an insuperable barrier for the disabled. Their complaints about difficulties with entering and exiting the trains have contributed to our decision to buy thirty low chassis carts manufactured by Siemens, which makes it possible for all the people to travel, without regard to their disability. This brought us closer to various standards. The trains cover various routes: Ljubljana - Maribor, Ljubljana - Venice... The compartments on the train are adapted for persons with difficulties in moving, restrooms are specially adopted for the needs of various passenger groups.

Accessing vehicles is the first issue we are trying to solve, since not all of the platforms are equally accessible to persons with difficulties in movement. On the main station in Ljubljana, raising platforms are available through the whole station complex. Raising platforms are available even for accessing the station platforms, however, when raising platform is not available, the conductors are obliged to help disabled persons get on a train.

With Slovenia's entering the European Union, Slovene railway will have to take care of some of the things, such as better throughput and mobility of our passengers, which we shall try to solve with the help of other financers  (the state, sponsors...). Some of the laws ensure discounts to some of the passengers (transportation of larger groups, transportation of the elderly on field trips and other performances with a new or even the old steam train...).

The trains have recently been equipped with various accessories for the blind and the poorly-sighted and the deaf and hard of hearing. The new Siemens trains are equipped with displays (an audio announcement when arriving to the station for the blind and the name of the station printed on the display for the deaf). ICS trains are only equipped with an announcing machine - an audio signal that is triggered by the arrival to the station. If such a signal is unsuitable, the conductors draw one's attention when the train arrives to the station? On other trains, without either a display or an audio signal, the conductor must notify the passengers of the arrival.

Some of the passengers have a right to certain benefits by law (passengers with muscular dystrophy and paraplegics), however other societies who represent people with various types of disability are contacting Slovene railway directly, as the legislature does not explicitly ensure any kind of privilege for them. During the weekends Slovene railway provides a 20% discount for all passengers on all routes. For groups of over 20 persons, such a discount is also provided, and additional discounts may be available for the materially deprived.

The Slovene Railway is already in contact with various services (taxi companies, rent-a-car), which not only ensure an easy access to the station, but can also transport you from the station to a destination of your choice, however, in this case one must notify our company in advance.

The Slovene Railway shall make an effort in the future to make progress in development of solutions for persons with disabilities in movement and to satisfy their needs when being transported by railway. A catalogue of public transport services, including a presentation of all the services provided in Slovenia and internationally is in preparation. This year, we are going to set up an Informational Centre in Ljubljana, which will provide information by phone, through websites, and info-pillars, which will provide a better awareness of our services.