I think they were using the motorized mobility devices which are not collapseable as Overmod stated (hoverrounds). In which case they have to find space without seats for them to park onboard with the breaks locked. I would think even with the brakes locked that in a collision they would fly around the passenger compartment unless they are anchored to the floor.
Anderson did the right thing. He backed down. He has been an executive long enough to know that once emotionalism kicks in, as it did in this situation, any attempt to discuss the issue rationally is gone. The best outcome for the corporation is to switch to damage control.
Apparently, the Public Relations folks at AMTRAK have realized they may have stepped on ther own step stools!
As Paul Harvey used to state: "Here is the rest of the story… "Amtrak backs dow
Watched an Amtrak wheelchair passenger onboarded with the portable lift at the Springfield, Il. station a couple years ago. The lift was pushed from the station platform out onto the adjacent cross-street next to the station. Automobiles were waiting for the train behind the gates. From the middle of the street, the passenger was lifted onto the train. Laughable if it weren’t so sad.
Appears that Amtrak wants to comply with ADA in the WORST POSSIBLE way, and they are making their compliance as laughable as possible.
According to Amtrak’s Service Line Plans FY20-24, as of FY18 Amtrak had shared or sole ADA responsibilities at 383 stations.
The company has invested more than $51 million in ADA related design and construction projects at more than 100 locations. Moreover, it is committed to spend more than $50 million from FY20 through FY24 to ensure its stations are ADA compliant, as per Appendix A, Customer Accessibility, Page 37, Amtrak Asset Line Plan FY20-24.
In the case of shared responsibilities, Amtrak’s ADA expenditures are usually matched by the station owner.
As noted Amtrak is constructing a new ADA compliant station platform at Temple, TX. Amtrak and Temple are splitting the cost, which is estimated to be $1 to $1.5 million.
As of FY18 46 percent of Amtrak’s cars were ADA compliant. Many of the older cars had to be retrofitted to comply with ADA requirements, but the newer cars were built to ADA standards.
Amtrak has spent millions to comply with ADA. Well, Amtrak hasn’t spent the money; it comes out of the pockets of the farepayers and taxpayers.
For some people, however, especially in light of a one-off stuff up, Amtrak and other common carriers will never measure up to their expectations.