Time to enter the world of rubber on tarmac
When highlighted accessibility as one of the key issues facing the railway in 2020 (‘Informed Sources’ January), didn’t expect a major crisis to erupt before my forecast had appeared in print. But on 16 December 2019, the Department for Transport wrote a round-robin letter to train operators asking them to pass it on ‘urgently’ to any coach suppliers used to provide rail replacement services.
WHY THE URGENCY?
Explaining the letter, DfT said: ‘We have become aware that there is a significant shortage of PSVAR-compliant vehicles for train operating companies (TOCs) to procure in order to provide rail replacement services from 1 January’.
Just as our industry has the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR), so the bus industry has the Passenger Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR). And under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), from 1 January 2020 it became a criminal offence to operate vehicles which don’t comply with the accessibility regulations, subject to a fine of £2,500.
This applies to buses and coaches designed to carry over 22 passengers on local and scheduled routes. Requirements include provision of a wheelchair space plus a ramp or lift for access.
