United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

(a) regulation 4(2), but only in so far as it relates to the emission of warning sounds outside the exempted vehicle;

(b) regulation 5(1)(a) and, in so far as it relates to doors in the ends of exempted vehicles, (c);

(c) subject to paragraph (3) below, regulation 5(1)(b), but only in so far as it relates to doors in the ends of exempted vehicles and only in so far as it relates to the maximum force in newtons required to operate the door control;

(d) regulation 6(1)(d);

(e) regulation 8(3), but only to the extent specified in paragraph (4) below;

(f) regulation 10(1)(b), but only in so far as it relates to the height of the bottom edge of the coloured marking measured from the floor;

(g) regulation 11(1)(a), but only in so far as it specifies as a minimum for the lower point for fitting a handrail of not more than 700 millimetres above the floor;

(h) regulation 11(2)(c), but only in so far as it relates to a handrail at the short draught-screen in the vestibule adjacent to a wheelchair space;

(i) regulation 13(7), but only in so far as it relates to the height of letters and numbers on visual systems which are inside the passenger saloon;

(j) regulation 15(3), but subject to the condition specified in paragraph (5) below;

(k) regulation 18(1);

(l) regulation 20(1)(d) and (e); and

(m) regulation 20(1)(f), but subject to the condition specified in paragraph (6) below.

    (3) The exemption given by paragraph (2)(c) above in relation to regulation 5(1)(b) shall apply to an exempted vehicle only while - 

(a) the maximum amount of force required to operate a door control does not exceed 40 newtons; and

(b) the operator provides in that vehicle or, where an exempted vehicle forms part of a train, in that train a person, other than the driver of that vehicle or train, who is reasonably available to assist a disabled person.

    (4) The exemption given by paragraph (2)(e) above in relation to regulation 8(3) shall extend only to the following seat specifications - 

(a) in respect of priority seats in the exempted vehicles which are numbered 67901 to 67908, all the dimensions shown in diagrams B1, B2, B3 and B4 other than the 1250 millimetres minimum clear headroom shown in diagrams B2, B3 and B4;

(b) in respect of priority seats in the other exempted vehicles - 


(i) in diagrams B2, B3 and B4, the vertical distance of 430 to 460mm specified for the distance between the passenger compartment floor and the highest point of the seat cushion;

(ii) in diagram B2, the 600mm horizontal distance between facing seats;

(iii) in diagram B3 the 680mm horizontal distance specified between the rear of the seat cushion and the back of the seat in front, and the 230mm horizontal distance specified for the clear space between seats; and

(iv) in diagram B4, the 230mm minimum horizontal distance between either side of the table and the fronts of the seats adjacent to that table.

doorway warning sounds cannot be heard outside the vehicle;

door controls are not positioned as required;

the amount of force needed to operate the door controls is greater than permitted;

internal door controls are not illuminated;

no illumination is provided for steps;

the priority seats and the spaces around them do not meet the required dimensions;

transparent surfaces do not have the required coloured markings;

handrails at external doors are not positioned as required;

the gap between certain handrails and the surface on which they are fixed is too small;

the characters for the internal visual announcements are smaller than required;

there are too few wheelchair spaces;

there are no tables in the wheelchair spaces;

a disabled person cannot wash and dry their hands without moving from the toilet;

it is not possible for a disabled person to move to the toilet seat from a wheelchair placed at the side or the front of the toilet; and

there is no hinged handrail beside the toilet in the toilet cubicle provided for disabled persons in wheelchairs.

It sets time limits on the authorisation and imposes conditions.

This Order consolidates and replaces, to the extent that they are not spent, the provisions of:

    (1) The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Gatwick Express Class 460 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2000;

    (2) The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Gatwick Express Class 460 Vehicles) Exemption (Amendment) Order 2000; and

    (3) The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Gatwick Express Class 460 Vehicles) Exemption (Amendment No. 2) Order 2000.

The only change of substance is the termination date for one of the exemptions from 31st March 2001 to 31st August 2001.