Basque Transport Ministry installs 48 SOS posts at the stations of the Basque railway network
• The goal is for greater safety on the more remote or least used platforms
The Basque Government's Ministry of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport, through ETS, has installed 48 SOS posts and 32 cameras at the stations of the Basque railway network in order to improve the safety – particularly of women – on the more remote or least used platforms. The budget came to €272,000.
The SOS points consist of a safety post with an emergency push button. Pushing it triggers an automatic call to the ETS command position, an acoustic alarm warning in the same station, a flashing light at the top of the SOS post to be activated and the adjacent cameras to start a live stream.
The ETS command position, from where all the rail traffic is controlled, checks that the call is not a prank and, if it is not, transfers the call to SOS Deiak emergency coordination centre. In addition, 32 surveillance cameras with recording included will optimise safety, along with those already installed at the railway facilities.
Once the emergency button is pushed, voice communication starts with the person needing assistance; a window with images – from the strategically positioned cameras focusing on the SOS post – automatically opens up on the control panel of the command position, so that the surveillance officer has the best view possible of the location and can thus optimally assist the user.
On the one hand, the presence of the SOS posts aims to be a deterrent and prevent any type of attack or risk situation; and, on the other hand, it offers greater safeguards for managing an emergency when help is needed.
The pilot test ran at the Aia Orio station for several months was satisfactory.
The 18 stations in Bizkaia where 28 SOS posts and 20 cameras will be fitted are Ariz, Berriz, Itxasbegi, Euba, Ermua, Derio, Forua, Zuhatzu, Bedia, Muxika, Institutua, Zamudio, Zugastieta, San Kristobal, Sangroiz and Lurgorri. In turn, the 12 stations that will install 20 SOS posts and 12 cameras are Errekalde, Aia Orio, Gaintxurizketa, Unibertsitatea, Arroa, Azitain, Toletxegain, Altza, Pasaia, San Lorentzo, Errotaberri and Añorga.
This initiative started three years ago, when the proposals in the Euskal Trenbide Sarea Equality Group's IV Equality Plan (the fifth has just been approved) include the possibility of gender analysing the situation of the Basque railway network stations that it manages. After considering the result, the ETS Management decided to endorse the project and published a White Paper with the criteria to design the stations of the Basque railway network from a gender perspective.
The manual, published just over a year ago, sought to offer solutions to provide safe and convenient space and services to all users of the Basque railway infrastructure, regardless of their age, gender or abilities. Even more so given that the public transport statistics in general and for Basque railways in particular are robust. Women are the main users – and also in the case of Euskotren (Basque rail operator) – as they account for 63% overall. Furthermore, women are more aware of lack of safety in public spaces and on transport, and which impacts their mobility.
Last September, the White Paper initiative was awarded the Matilde Ucelay Prize by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. The prize is public recognition of those people or entities that have strived for gender equality in the field of transport, infrastructure, mobility and urban development. One of the measures in the White Paper was to identify a series of points at the stations managed by ETS with shortcomings due to lack of visibility or accessibility, or to being away from the transited areas, and which, therefore, can cause the users to feel insecure. A multiannual plan of action was consequently designed with its relevant budgetary allocation to overcome the pinpointed shortcomings.