The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Gatwick Express Class 458 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2006
This Order authorises the use of specified rail vehicles forming Class 458 electrical multiple-units, although they do not conform with certain requirements of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (S.I 1998/2456 as amended by S.I. 2000/3215) because:door controls are not positioned as required;more force than is permitted is required to operate the corridor door control devices;internal door controls are not illuminated;there is no step illumination;handrails at external doors are not positioned as required;the characters for internal visual announcement are smaller than required; andthe toilet cubicle for disabled persons in wheelchairs does not meet the requirement that such a person may wash and dry his hands without moving from the toilet and the requirement that there must be sufficient space for a reference wheelchair in front of and beside the toilet.