The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to passenger-carrying vehicles used on railways, tramways, monorail systems or magnetic levitation systems (regulated rail vehicles), which are first brought into use, or belong to a class of vehicle first brought into use, after 31st December 1998 (see section 46(6) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995). They impose requirements for the benefit of disabled persons. The principal features are—

1.  The requirements for the marking of doors, their warning devices and their controls are contained in regulations 4 and 5.

2.  Regulation 6 specifies requirements relating to steps on the exterior and in the interior of vehicles.

3.  Regulation 7 specifies requirements relating to floors.

4.  Regulation 8 specifies the requirements for priority seating for the use of disabled persons.

5.  Regulation 9 specifies the requirements for request-stop controls in a tramcar, if the tramcar is fitted with such controls.

6.  Regulation 10 contains requirements relating to interior transparent surfaces.

7.  Regulation 11 specifies the requirements for handrails and for handholds fitted to the backs of seats.

8.  Regulation 12 specifies the minimum force needed to operate a door handle.

9.  Regulation 13 specifies the requirements for audible and visual announcements inside and outside the vehicle including their use and contents.

10.  Regulation 14 specifies the requirements for any toilets which are fitted to a vehicle.

11.  Regulations 15 to 24 contain additional requirements for the benefit of disabled persons in wheelchairs, including:

(a) the provision of wheelchair spaces, their dimensions and other requirements (regulations 15 and 16),

(b) the provision of wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartments (regulation 17),

(c) the provision of tables in wheelchair spaces, if other passengers have them (regulation 18),

(d) the provision of wheelchair-compatible doorways and passageways to wheelchair spaces and wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartments (regulation 19),

(e) additional requirements for toilets (regulation 20),

(f) requirements relating to telephones for passengers' use (regulation 21),

(g) minimum internal door width (regulation 22),

(h) the provision of boarding devices, which may be lifts or ramps, and requirements relating to them (regulation 23), and

(i) catering services, if such services are available for other passengers (regulation 24).