A NEW railway can promise faster journeys and modern facilities. But for older people and passengers with disabilities, the real test is more basic: Can they get to the station, board the train and reach their destination without facing unnecessary barriers?
That question matters as Malaysia prepares to introduce the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), an important addition to the country’s transport network. Faster, more comfortable journeys between the Klang Valley and the east coast are welcome.
Yet, progress should not be measured by speed, technology or the billions invested alone. It should also be measured by how well the system serves everyone.
I know what it means to travel with limited mobility. I am 62, and a stroke left part of my body paralysed. Having travelled to 61 countries and 41 US states, I have seen how accessible transport can make a profound difference to people’s lives – and how a lack of it can make a journey difficult before it has even begun.
