Canada court orders more railway wheelchair access

OTTAWA, March 23 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court of Canada ordered improvements on Friday in government-owned Via Rail's passenger cars to improve wheelchair accessibility.

"Independent access to the same comfort, dignity, safety and security as those without physical limitations is a fundamental human right for people who use wheelchairs," Justice Rosalie Abella wrote for the 5-4 majority.

The ruling dealt with a fleet of 139 rail cars that Via bought in 2000 and had refurbished at a total cost of C$139 million ($120 million).

Via had said it would cost C$48 million more in alterations and lost revenue to make the changes needed to accommodate people with their own wheelchairs.

But the government's Canada Transportation Agency, which had ordered Via to make the changes, said Via's estimate was much too high.

The minority court decision said the Canadian Transportation Agency's position was flawed because it did not examine carefully enough the effect of the extra costs on the cash-strapped train company.

($1=$1.16 Canadian)