Research and analysis

East Midlands class 156 dispensation (web version)

Updated 21 July 2020

Sender

Jeremy Hotchkiss

Deputy Director

Rail Technical Industry Competitiveness Department for Transport

Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road

London

SW1P 4DR

Web Site: www.dft.gov.uk

Our Ref: RFSPEC 16/23/2

Recipient

[redacted]

Systems Engineer – Bodyshell and Interiors Angel Trains Limited

123 Victoria Street London

SW1E 6DE

Letter

Dear [redacted]

29 August 2019

The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 – Class 156 (East Midlands Railway) - 2020 accessibility deadline

Regulation 45 of the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011[footnote 1] (RIR 2011) makes it unlawful for a passenger rail vehicle to be used in service on the trans-European rail system in the UK after 31 December 2019 unless it complies with the Technical Specification for Interoperability - Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM TSI) (and/or defined domestic accessibility standards[footnote 2]) except to the extent that:

  • a derogation from part of the PRM TSI has been granted under Regulation 14 of RIR 2011

  • a determination that part of the PRM TSI does not apply has been made under Regulation 13(8) of RIR 2011

  • a dispensation that part of the PRM TSI does not apply has been granted under Regulation 46 of RIR 2011

This is a dispensation (effective from the date of this letter) made under Regulation 46(4) of the RIR 2011, granting that the vehicles listed in Annex A, which form the sub-fleet of trains known as East Midlands Railway Class 156, need not comply after 31 December 2019 with those parts of the PRM TSI 2008 listed in Annex B. This follows consultation with DPTAC[footnote 3].

For the avoidance of doubt, a separate derogation or determination made under point a) or b) above would be required for any vehicle listed in Annex A that undergoes an upgrade or renewal that requires an authorisation under RIR 2011 after this dispensation.

I have copied this dispensation to the ORR for their information. Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Hotchkiss

signed by the authority of the Secretary of State

Annex A

Units Vehicles
156470 52470 & 57470
156473 52473 & 57473
156497 52497 & 57497
156498 52498 & 57498

Annex B

Listing Subject
4.2.2.4.2.1 para 1 Door sensitive edges
4.2.2.4.2.1 para 2 Width of external doorway
4.2.2.4.2.1 last para Height of internal door control button
4.2.2.4.2.2 1st para Timing of door control illumination
4.2.2.5 Illumination of step/floor threshold
4.2.2.12.1 Platform/train gap & step
4.2.2.7 para 3 Width of clearway
4.2.2.4.2 para 2 Width of wheelchair compatible doorway
4.2.2.8.3 para 1 External bodyside PIS displays
4.2.2.8.3 para 16 Volume of announcements
4.2.2.10 para 4 Height of handrail in doorway
  1. SI 3066/2011 

  2. The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001 or Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 

  3. The Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee