Pubtrans4all will develop a prototype vehicle-based boarding assistance system that can be built into new rail vehicles or retrofitted into existing rail vehicles to improve accessibility for all persons. Accessibility for rail vehicles is particularly problematic since rail vehicles have a long service life and so many currently inaccessible vehicles will remain in service well into the future. PubTrans4all will help make existing public transport systems more accessible, improving service for everyone.The PubTrans4all project’s objective is to develop a standard boarding assistance system that can be used on many different types of rolling stock and infrastructures. The boarding assistance system will not simply be a device, but rather include contributing elements that make it possible to effectively use the device to access rail vehicles. The prototype will be developed by a multi-disciplinary consortium including users, public transport operators, academic researchers and manufacturers.As part of the process of developing the prototype boarding assistance system, the project will survey state of the art accessibility devices and make recommendations for best practices in the use and operation of these existing devices. The project will include an extensive dissemination program designed to communicate study results widely, but also to help inform the general public and decision-makers about the importance and challenges in providing accessibility for all.The PubTrans4all project will be completed by a well balanced and geographically diverse consortium. Especially beneficial is the participation of several Eastern European partners – since accessibility is not sufficiently recognized as a problem in many of these countries.Accessibility for all is critical to creating an equitable, effective and efficient transport system. The project PubTrans4all will help build a fully accessible rail network.