Chris Heaton-Harris writes to Rail Delivery Group about accessibility regulations

Letter from Chris Heaton-Harris to Rail Delivery Group about accessibility regulations compliance and a further period of special authorisations from October 2021.

Letter from Chris Heaton-Harris to Rail Delivery Group about the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 and their application to rail replacement services, 21 September 2021

PDF, 162KB, 3 pages

Details

This letter concerns rail replacement services (RSS) and compliance with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR).

It outlines the government’s decision to allow coach and bus operators who provide RRS to apply for strictly time-limited special authorisations for up to 9 months from 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022. This would give officials and the industry time to continue delivering a more robust long-term solution to the issue of ensuring that public service vehicles are accessible for all passengers.

The letter sets out clear expectations for operators to deliver PSVAR compliant rail replacement services and to provide alternatives that offer the same levels of safety, comfort and convenience.

The letter has been sent to the Rail Delivery Group with the expectation that they will share it with their members.