WHEELCHAIR ACCESS VIA TRENITALIA'S SALABLU -- PART 5

SALABLU DISABLED PASSENGER SERVICE BY TRENITALIA MAKES MAKES RAIL SERVICE ACCESSIBLE THROUGHOUT TUSCANY AND ITALY

Trenitalia has a fabulous service from Rome's airport to the center of Eternal City.

Rome is not in Tuscany and we had no plan to visit it during this trip.

But Alitalia airline screwed up royally and left Miami three hours late for the transcontinental flight.

We arrive in Rome when our connecting flight to Firenze had taken off.

So we saw Rome in a day -- and took the wheelchair accessible train (which less than 30 euro, or less than half the price of a cab).

From the Trenitalia website, here is some more information about services for disabled passengers (remember to forgive its shaky translations and awkward -- we would not say "people with mental handicap" -- phrasing.)

Assistance to persons with disabilities or reduced mobility

With the coming into force of (EC) Regulation No. 1371/2007, the terms "person with disabilities" or "person with reduced mobility" (PRM) have finally been introduced, equivalent definitions indicating people with reduced mobility, in the use of transport means, due to any physical disability (sensory or locomotor, permanent or temporary), mental disability or handicap, or due to any other disability cause, or for reasons of age, and whose condition requires adequate attention and service adaptation in order to meet their specific needs.

Our assistance service is provided by RFI - Rete Ferroviaria Italiana – and is addressed to: 

- individuals in a wheelchair because of illness or disability;
- individuals with limb problems or with difficulty in walking;
- elderly people;
- pregnant women;
- blind or visually impaired people;
- deaf or hearing impaired people;
- people with mental handicap

email: salablu.firenze@rfi.it

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=052ff172e719a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

STORY CONTINUES TOMORROW, JULY15