Rail replacement coaches exempt from accessibility regulation
DfT has announced exemptions to the Accessible Information Regulations (AIR) for coaches when used on rail replacement services, the CPT has revealed to B&CB.
AIR is set to be implemented on 1 October 2024.
The DfT’s exemptions are for coaches with more than 16 passenger seats used on rail replacement (local) services. A local service is one where separate fares are paid, either directly or indirectly for the right to be carried on a service, and where a passenger is able to alight within 15 miles of where they boarded. Rail replacement services that do not meet the definition of a local service are fully exempt from the AIR.
AIR exemptions will not apply to operators who have been allocated an Accessible Information Grant. Where a grant has yet to be awarded, exemptions will apply until a decision has been made on the grant application.
Exemptions are provided in relation to the technical requirements of the accessible information, such as text height, decibel levels, alert sounds, and the need for hearing loops to be provided. These exemptions will run until 31 July 2026, in line with MTEs issued for PSVAR.
DfT stresses that the legal requirements to provide key route, direction and next stop announcements at the prescribed times must still be adhered to. Furthermore, the Department reminds operators that audio or verbal announcement information should be mirrored in visual format.
“We hope this will give time to consider the practical and economic challenges, develop appropriate solutions where appropriate, and decide the longer-term position” – Keith McNally, Operations Director for CPT
Keith McNally, Operations Director for CPT, said: “CPT welcomes this DfT announcement. It follows months of discussion where we provided data and information to show there is scant economic justification for coaches commonly used for rail replacement services to be fitted with the kind of specialist display equipment now rightly being installed to provide ‘accessible’ (audio/visual) information on local bus services.
“Our data showed the case for investing in such equipment on these vehicles is weak, so it is great to hear that some practical exemptions will allow audio and visual announcements to be made in alternative ways on coaches used to replace rail services until the summer of 2026. We hope this will give time to consider the practical and economic challenges, develop appropriate solutions where appropriate, and decide the longer-term position.”