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Further to John Bengough’s letter, which included an analysis of responses to that exercise and noted next steps, the two sets of draft regulations which were its subject have now been formally published on the Office for Public Sector Information’s web site and both will formally come into force on 6 April.

These are:

The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010

www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/pdf/uksi_20100432_en.pdf

These Regulations will revoke and replace the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998.  They prescribe the accessibility standards to which new, and - for the first time - older (pre-1999) light rail vehicles as and when they are refurbished, must comply.  Key changes include the:

·           setting of an end date, of 1 January 2020, by which time all light rail vehicles must be accessible;

·           application of accessibility standards to older (pre-1999) light rail vehicles when refurbished;

·           updating accessibility standards in light of over a decade of practical experience; and

·           provision of enforcement by the Office of Rail Regulation using the same regime already in place for accessibility on heavy rail.

The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Applications for Exemptions) Regulations 2010 

www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/pdf/uksi_20100427_en.pdf

These Regulations make only minor amendments to the Rail Vehicle (Exemption Applications) Regulations 1998, which they will revoke and replace, including:

·           clarifying and extending the ability to apply for an exemption order to rail vehicles owners and certain lessees (previously only operators could apply);

·           making provision for applications to exempt light rail networks, as opposed to a vehicle specific application;

·           improving the list of information which must be provided with an application in relation to a light rail vehicle; and

·           listing the information which must be provided with and application in relation to a light rail network.

The Department for Transport will be considering what amendments are necessary to the associated guidance documentation and draft material will be circulated for consultation in due course.  In the meantime, the amendments to the technical accessibility standards themselves were explained further in the consultation paper (see Annex C at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/rvarconsul/rvarannexc.doc).