The voluntary national standard GB/T 47732-2026, General technical requirements for the configuration of elderly-oriented basic equipment and installations for the urban rail transit, officially came into effect on September 1. The standard sets forth new requirements from various dimensions for age-friendly equipment and facilities in urban rail transit.

Strengthening end-to-end safety protection. Tailored to the characteristics of the elderly, the standard provides systematic protective requirements for key areas where falls and collisions are most likely to occur, building a comprehensive safety bottom for elderly passengers.

Coordinating the deployment of age-friendly hardware facilities. It specifies infrastructure requirements for station access, rest areas, emergency assistance, and sanitary facilities, promotes the integrated development of age-friendly and accessibility facilities, and ensures that elderly passengers have access to rest and emergency assistance when needed.

Optimizing information guidance and smart services. Considering the visual and auditory characteristics of elderly users, GB/T 47732-2026 regulates directional signage, public address systems, and emergency call devices. For digital services, it requires simplified operations and special modes for elderly passengers to remove barriers to the use of smart devices.

Standardizing on-board age-friendly conditions. The standard also sets requirements for priority seats, wheelchair parking spaces, and interior environments in carriages, thereby improving the in-vehicle travel experience.

Implementing the principle of synchronous construction. The standard explicitly requires that age-friendly facilities be planned, designed, constructed, commissioned, and put into use simultaneously with the main rail transit infrastructure. It shall be strictly implemented in new projects, and existing renovation and expansion projects should follow the same principles.

GB/T 47732-2026 provides a unified technical basis for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of age-friendly equipment and facilities in China’s urban rail transit system. It will benefit transportation for all and safeguard the public travel rights and interests of the elderly.