Statutory Instruments 1998 No. 2456

Statutory Instruments 1998 No. 2456
The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 - continued

Wheelchair space specifications
16. - (1) A wheelchair space shall comply with the following specifications:

(a) the space shall be not less than 1300 millimetres long measured in the longitudinal plane of the regulated rail vehicle and not less than 750 millimetres wide measured in the transverse plane of that vehicle;

(b) subject to regulation 18 there shall be no obstruction of the space between the floor and the ceiling of the regulated rail vehicle, other than an overhead luggage rack or an openable window (if fitted);

(c) at one end of the space there shall be a structure or fitting which shall have a minimum width of 700 millimetres and shall be capable of preventing a reference wheelchair, which has been positioned with its back against the structure or fitting, from moving or tipping towards the structure or fitting, whether or not that movement or tip includes a sideways movement or tip.

(d) no magazine rack or other fitting for the use of other passengers shall be accessible through the space, other than an overhead luggage rack or an openable window (if fitted);

(e) the space shall be fitted with a device which shall -

(f) a sign conforming to diagram C in the Schedule shall be marked on the fixed structure.

(2)

(a) If a wheelchair space is not needed by a disabled person in a wheelchair folding or tip-up seats may be used in that space.

(b) When folded or tipped up those seats shall not project into the space.

(a) the exterior of the toilet cubicle door shall be marked with a sign conforming to diagram C in the Schedule;

(b) the width of the doorway shall be not less than 850 millimetres;

(c) the surface of the toilet seat when lowered shall be not less than 475 millimetres and not more than 485 millimetres vertically above the floor of the toilet cubicle;

(d) the toilet cubicle shall be equipped with facilities to enable a disabled person in a wheelchair to wash and dry his hands without moving from the seat of the toilet;

(e) there shall be sufficient space inside the toilet cubicle for a reference wheelchair to be positioned in front of the toilet and to be positioned at one side of the toilet so that it is possible for a disabled person to move from a reference wheelchair on to the toilet seat from the front or the side of the toilet;

(f) there shall be hinged handrail beside the toilet which shall -

(g) beside the toilet and on the opposite side to the space for the reference wheelchair there shall be a horizontal handrail which shall comply with the requirements in paragraph (2) of regulation 11;

(h) the toilet cubicle shall be fitted with not less than two devices to enable a disabled person to communicate in an emergency with a person who is in a position to take appropriate action, one to be placed not more than 450 millimetres above the floor measured vertically from the surface of the floor to the top of the control device and the other to be not less than 800 millimetres and not more than 1200 millimetres above the floor measured vertically to the top of the control;

(i) each such control shall be operable by the palm of a person's hand exerting a force not greater than 30 newtons.

(2) The passageway between the wheelchair space or wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment and that toilet cubicle shall be not less than 850 millimetres wide at any point and provide a space adjacent to that toilet cubicle for the disabled person in the reference wheelchair to turn the wheelchair around through one hundred and eighty degrees.

Telephones
21. - (1) If a regulated rail vehicle or train is fitted with telephones for the use of passengers then -

(a) the vehicle or train shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (2), or

(b) the operator shall assist a disabled person in a wheelchair by providing on request a mobile telephone for use in that person's wheelchair space.

(2) The requirements are:

(a) at the telephone nearest to a wheelchair space the top of the telephone equipment shall not be more than 1,400 millimetres vertically above the floor; and

(b) the passageway between the wheelchair space and that telephone shall be not less than 850 millimetres wide at any point and provide a space adjacent to that telephone for the disabled person in the reference wheelchair to turn the wheelchair around through one hundred and eighty degrees.

Internal doorways
     22. - (1) A doorway (other than an external doorway in the side or the end of a regulated rail vehicle) through which a disabled person in wheelchair must pass to reach a wheelchair space, a wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment, or the nearest toilet or telephone to that space or compartment shall be not less than 850 millimetres wide.

    (2) A doorway in the end of a vehicle through which a disabled person in a wheelchair must pass to reach a wheelchair space, a wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment, or the nearest toilet or telephone to that compartment or space shall be not less than 750 millimetres wide.

Boarding devices
     23. - (1) When a wheelchair-compatible doorway in a regulated rail vehicle is open at a platform at a station or a tram stop a boarding device must be fitted between that doorway and the platform or stop if a disabled person in a wheelchair wishes to use that doorway, unless the gap between the edge of the door sill of that doorway and the edge of the platform or stop is not more than 75 millimetres measured horizontally and not more than 50 millimetres measured vertically.

    (2) The surface of a boarding device shall be slip-resistant.

    (3) No boarding device other than a lift or a ramp shall be used.

    (4) If a regulated rail vehicle is fitted with a lift it shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) the lift-platform shall be not less than 750 millimetres wide measured parallel to the side of the vehicle and not less than 1200 millimetres long measured at a right angle to the side of the vehicle;

(b) the lift-platform shall be capable of supporting a weight of not less than 300 kilograms (excluding its own weight);

(c) the surface of the lift-platform shall be marked by a strip of colour, which shall abut the edges of that surface, be not less than 50 millimetres wide and contrast with the remainder of the surface, and the platform shall be coloured on each side with that colour;

(d) the lift-platform shall not travel up or down at a speed in excess of 150 millimetres per second;

(e) the lift-platform shall rest on the surface of the platform of the station or tram stop when it has been fully lowered;

(f) unless the lift-platform is in its fully lowered position the wheelchair shall be prevented from rolling off the platform by a device with a height of not less than 100 millimetres above the surface of the lift-platform;

(g) the lift-platform shall be fitted with sensors capable of stopping the movement of the lift-platform if it comes into contact with any thing or person whilst it is in motion;

(h) the lift shall be operable only by persons (other than passengers) who are authorised to operate it by the operator of the vehicle and who shall provide assistance by operating it for disabled persons in wheelchairs.

(5) If the regulated rail vehicle is fitted with a power-operated ramp -

(a) if the ramp is to be operated by a disabled person in a wheelchair the control button for that ramp shall be adjacent to the wheelchair-compatible doorway and within reach of a person in a reference wheelchair;

(b) the ramp shall be fitted with a sensor along the edge furthest from the vehicle capable of stopping the movement of that ramp if it comes into contact with any thing or person whilst the ramp is in movement;

(c) the ramp shall be incapable of movement in any plane if the surface of the ramp is subjected to a load of 15 kilograms or more;

(d) the operator of the vehicle shall provide assistance to the disabled person in a wheelchair using the ramp unless the gradient of the ramp above the horizontal plane is eight per cent or less;

(e) the ramp shall not be operable by a passenger unless the vehicle has stopped at a station, a stop in a street or another place to which the public have access.

(6) If the regulated rail vehicle is not fitted with a lift or a power-operated ramp, the operator of the vehicle shall provide assistance in deploying and using a separate ramp.

(7) A ramp (whether power-operated or not) shall when in use -

(a) be fixed securely to the regulated rail vehicle;

(b) be not less than 800 millimetres wide and not wider than the opening of the wheelchair-compatible doorway;

(c) have along each side which is not to be crossed by the wheelchair a protective rim standing at least 50 millimetres higher than the surface of the ramp;

(d) be capable of supporting a weight of not less than 300 kilograms (excluding its own weight);

(e) rest its outer edge securely on the surface of the platform of the station or tram stop; and

(f) be marked on its upper surface by a strip of colour, which shall abut the edge of that surface shall be not less than 50 millimetres wide and shall contrast with the remainder of that surface, and be coloured on each side with that colour.

    (8) A boarding device which is power-operated shall also be operable manually, and the operator shall provide assistance for such manual operation if the power-operation fails.

    (9) A boarding device which is power-operated shall not be capable of being deployed unless the vehicle to which it is fitted is stationary.

    (10) A boarding device which is carried by a rail vehicle and which is not in use shall be fixed securely to that vehicle so that it is does not endanger the safety of persons in that vehicle.

Catering
     24. If catering facilities are provided in a regulated rail vehicle or on a train but there is no passageway for a reference wheelchair from a wheelchair space or wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment to those facilities the operator of that vehicle or train shall assist a disabled person in a wheelchair by providing a reasonably equivalent catering service to that person in that space or compartment.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of Statefor the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Glenda Jackson
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

5th October 1998

SCHEDULERegulations 2, 8, 16, 18 and 20

(Note: the diagrams are not to scale)

Diagram A - Reference Wheelchair

Priority Seats

Diagram C - Wheelchair Symbol

Toilets

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to passenger-carrying vehicles used on railways, tramways, monorail systems or magnetic levitation systems (regulated rail vehicles), which are first brought into use, or belong to a class of vehicle first brought into use, after 31st December 1998 (see section 46(6) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995). They impose requirements for the benefit of disabled persons. The principal features are -

     1. The requirements for the marking of doors, their warning devices and their controls are contained in regulations 4 and 5.

     2. Regulation 6 specifies requirements relating to steps on the exterior and in the interior of vehicles.

     3. Regulation 7 specifies requirements relating to floors.

     4. Regulation 8 specifies the requirements for priority seating for the use of disabled persons.

     5. Regulation 9 specifies the requirements for request-stop controls in a tramcar, if the tramcar is fitted with such controls.

     6. Regulation 10 contains requirements relating to interior transparent surfaces.

     7. Regulation 11 specifies the requirements for handrails and for handholds fitted to the backs of seats.

     8. Regulation 12 specifies the minimum force needed to operate a door handle.

     9. Regulation 13 specifies the requirements for audible and visual announcements inside and outside the vehicle including their use and contents.

     10. Regulation 14 specifies the requirements for any toilets which are fitted to a vehicle.

     11. Regulations 15 to 24 contain additional requirements for the benefit of disabled persons in wheelchairs, including:

ISBN 0 11 079652 7

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