That's fair enough sims, thing is that the narrow doorways on the V sets are no different to how people with disabilities have had to find other forms of getting around as old loco hauled carriages, the original interurbans all had narrow doors and hard to get up into the carriages from standard platforms.The V sets are out of time. The narrow doors and passageways are no longer viable for disabled access and reduced dwell times.Several of the sets that run here on the CC line have the swing doors removed, also seats in the vestibule areas are reduced for extra room. Most of the stations are also manned and have disabled access available. The greatest hindrance for the disabled is the high stairways they still have to get up and down to the platforms on.
Its not just the V sets that have disabled problems but very much the dmu's that run in the Maitland services, while some of the stations have raised sections along them there is still a high step up from the platform into the entries, in fact if one compared those sets, and the H sets with the 5 seat configurations there is more issues for the disabled on those trains with narrow doors and aisleways.
There is one other DMU up here that has access restraints as the doors into the compartments at each end are locked and they are also slightly narrower, the difficulty getting out when the train is crowded has the guard needing to get out onto the platform as the doorways are narrow there as well. How anyone with a disabled wheel chair could get on some of those would be a nightmare to see, let alone be involved.
At Victoria st station which is amongst the busiest the 2 car sets have a stop point, that has one of the end doorways stopping on the angled drop down higher extension to the platforms height guite an issue for some as they try to get on or off, Very very easy to miss the height of the entry into the train from the platform.
V sets might have a disabled spot but that doesn't mean it is able to handle a person in a wheelchair. The doors are too narrow period. I know this because I have a disabled father and 2 disabled uncles and none of which have ever been able to get on a v set. The high entry from platform is common even on the suburban fleet and you are right about it being difficult if not impossible to get wheelchairs on some trains at certain stations but the wide doors and roomy entryway is so much easier and quicker to get a wheelchair on to the train where the ramp is not too steep. Narrow doors are a thing of the past and they need to go which is why the V set need to go.
I have had spinal surgery, along with having fused discs in the back and neck, I had a slight hiccup a couple of weeks back getting into the DMU at Victoria St when I tripped in the doorway, first time every but, the point of my original post regarding the difference in comfort stands very much for me when one compares the V and H sets. I can travel on the V sets from Hamilton to Central/Strathfield with no discomfort, but getting on one of the Millinium or whatever they are that run to Kingswood where I had an appointment with a nuero surgeon was hard on my back, thankfully on the return at Strathfield there was a V set on the return so that trip was pleasant enough.
What is interesting though is the seats in the DMU's look the same as those on the H sets, yet they have a degree of softness in them compared to the others, no matter whether they are 3 or 2 seaters. Not sure how they would be in going to Sydney though.
I am all for comfort and convenience for all people, especially for those who have disabilities. Trouble also is these days is that there are so few manned stations, that those needing help are basically turned away by default from using PT, with the guard at the rear of the train and many stations with steps and the like mid point how do the disabled get on the trains with assistance no where to be seen.
