News Front
DISPENSATIONS AGAINST Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) regulations have been granted for fleets operated by four companies beyond the end of 2020.
PRM regulations came into force at the start of 2020, and while many non-compliant fleets were withdrawn last year some are still in service. All the latest dispensations expire on 31 May.
Greater Anglia has been awarded dispensations covering its Class 317 and 321 EMUs; these are being replaced by Bombardier-built Class 720 Aventra EMUs, which began entering service in late 2020.
Northern has received a dispensation to continue operating 18 Class 153s, 10 owned by Angel Trains and eight by Porterbrook. The ‘153s’ must be operated coupled to PRM-compliant units, except on the Barton-on-Humber branch. Northern withdrew its last Pacers from service in November 2020 and has introduced nearly all its new CAF-built trains (Class 195 DMUs and Class 331 EMUs).
East Midlands Railway has dispensations covering its HSTs and Class 153s. The HST dispensation relates to six eight-car rakes and six spare Mk 3 coaches, although as we reported last month EMR is reducing its HSTs to 2+6 formation. The operator has now withdrawn all its original ‘blue’ Mk 3 coach…
