Rail vehicles

Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations have applied to all new rail vehicles entering service in Great Britain since 31 December 1998. They standardised accessibility requirements to meet the needs of disabled passengers including, for example, provision for wheelchair users, the size and location of handrails, handholds and control devices as well as the provision of passenger information systems and other equipment. The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 (“RVAR 2010”) have now replaced the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 (“RVAR 1998”).

However, on 1 July 2008, a new European standard for the accessibility of heavy rail vehicles (trains), the Technical Specification for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM TSI) came into force. The PRM TSI applies to all trains used on the interoperable rail system, which comprises the major lines of the mainline rail system in the UK (in practice all Network Rail infrastructure). It also covers the accessibility of railway stations and related infrastructure.

To prevent the application of dual accessibility regimes (European and domestic) to heavy rail vehicles new legislation, the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008, was developed. This removed those trains subject to the PRM TSI from the scope of RVAR 1998 but ensured that there remained a requirement to maintain and operate them to the standards to which they were built, i.e. RVAR.

RVAR 2010 remains as the accessibility standard to which light rail vehicles (those used on metro, underground and tram systems) are built.

As well as new rail vehicles, RVAR 2010 and the PRM TSI also apply to older rail vehicles (those introduced prior to 1999) when they undergo refurbishment (for non-heavy rail, and heavy rail respectively).

All rail vehicles, both heavy and light rail, must be accessible by no later than 1 January 2020.

 

Working towards 2020

Whilst the latest fleets of rail vehicles are fully compliant with accessibility requirements and future new builds will be similarly compliant, it does not benefit anyone to pull older rail vehicles which were introduced into service before mandatory accessibility requirements were first introduced in 1998 but which have an economic life beyond 2020 and expend effort on correcting minor non-compliances which do not materially reduce their accessibility to disabled passengers but can cost a significant amount to rectify. An example might be having to replace every door pillar in order to lower a door control button by fifty millimetres.

Instead, focus is being concentrated on those non-compliances which truly prevent disabled people from accessing rail vehicles. This “targeted compliance” approach is being applied on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the rail industry and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (“DPTAC”) and follows an assessment which identifies those areas, such as passenger information systems, where compliance by 2020 will be required. This assessment includes areas for which heavy rail vehicles previously regulated under RVAR were granted exemption orders.

The necessary rectification work is already being programmed into recent franchise agreements and, as works aimed at meeting 2020 will take place over the next ten years, many passengers will gain the benefit of the end date long before it arrives.

Whilst the Department is clear that an accessible rail fleet will be achieved by 1 January 2020, it recognises that a small number of rail vehicles are unlikely to be able to fully comply with the PRM TSI or RVAR. Whilst we are already working with operators to improve rail vehicle accessibility, it is inevitable that some exemptions will remain necessary and we are working with the rail industry and DPTAC to ensure that these are minimised as far as possible.

For more information, please contact us at railvehicleaccess@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

 

Research

Rail vehicle/platform gaps

Disability discrimination legislation has resulted in significantly more accessible trains and stations. Whilst there remains much to do, the Department for Transport was conscious that the gap between the train and platform remained a potential barrier to disabled passengers, amongst others.

To gain a better understanding of this problem, a research study was commissioned by the DfT’s Mobility & Inclusion Unit. The purpose of the research was to establish from a user’s perspective what constituted an acceptable gap and step and to provide recommendations for updating the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 and the Strategic Rail Authority’s "Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers – A Code of Practice".

Any measures for reducing the stepping distance will only be introduced after full consultation with the rail industry and disability organisations.

Three reports are available, with increasing amounts of technical detail – ‘Summary’, ‘Research’ and ‘Technical Analysis’ (see ‘See also’ section below).

Implementation of RVAR for refurbished vehicles

Interfleet Technology, with the full co-operation of the industry, undertook research on behalf of the Department that looked at the technical implications for existing rolling stock of RVAR compliance. We have shared the findings with industry.

Audible Warnings

The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 include a requirement for a distinct sound be emitted when a train door becomes operable and when it is about to close. This is intended to help visually impaired passengers find the door; to indicate to them when it can be opened; and to warn them when it is about to close. This research is intended to establish whether this requirement is of benefit and, if so, to assess the optimum type, location (both inside and outside of the vehicle) and duration of the warning.

Both summary and full reports from Stage 1 of the research are available. Examples of the topic guides and questionnaires used during this stage are available to download from the full report link below (see ‘See also’ section) as these were not available in the printed version.

 

Publications and other resources

This page lists all our Rail publications together with links to any related literature and other resources that may be of interest.

Rail vehicle accessibility

 

Research

Significant steps

Train door warning systems for sensory impaired people