Commentary on Sections Part 12: Disabled Persons: Transport Chapter 3: Rail vehicles Effect
580.This section includes powers for the Secretary of State to make regulations to ensure that trains, trams and certain other guided transport systems are accessible to disabled people including wheelchair users.
581.However, due to the limited definition of “rail vehicle” used in this section, its scope is restricted to rail vehicles which do not operate on the “interoperable rail system”. Regulations made under this section could therefore only be applicable for the most part to light rail vehicles (those used on metro, underground and tram systems and prescribed modes of guided transport).
582.All rail vehicles must comply with accessibility standards, or have an appropriate exemption in place, by no later than 1 January 2020.
583.Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State must first consult the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and other representative organisations.