Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) (London Underground Victoria Line 09TS Vehicles) Exemption Order 2013 and comes into force on 1st January 2014.

Interpretation

2.  (1)  In this Order -

"exempt vehicle" means a rail vehicle known as Victoria Line 2009 Tube Stock (09TS) and with a number in the series 11001 to 11094, 12001 to 12094, 13001 to 13094 or 14001 to 14094;

"step-free access" means access from the station entrance to platform level without the use of stairs or escalators;

"Victoria Line" means the London Underground route between Walthamstow Central and Brixton stations.

(2) In this Order a reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to that paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010(4).

Exemptions

3.  Subject to article 4, an exempt vehicle is authorised to be used for carriage on the Victoria Line even if it does not conform to, or it is used in a manner that does not conform to, the requirements of-

(a)paragraph 1(1) (boarding devices at wheelchair compatible doorways) at Pimlico station;

(b)paragraph 3(5)(b) (audible warning before door closes), but only in respect of the period of time for which the distinct sound should be emitted before the door starts to close; or

(c)paragraph 11(5) (passenger information when vehicle is stationary), but only in so far as it applies to the systems inside the passenger saloon.

Conditions

4.  (1)  The exemption from paragraph 1(1) at Pimlico station only applies until step-free access is provided at that station.

(2) The exemption from paragraph 3(5)(b) only applies if the audible warning device emits a distinct sound which is different from that emitted when the doors are opening and which commences at least 1.75 seconds before the door starts to close.

(3) The exemption from paragraph 11(5) only applies if-

(a)whilst the vehicle is stationary at a station, the systems inside the passenger saloon are used to announce that the vehicle is a Victoria Line train and at least one of the following items of information-

(i)the destination of the vehicle;

(ii)the next stop; and

(b)where no announcement is made at a station as to either the destination of a vehicle or its next stop, that information is provided after leaving the station and before the vehicle stops at the next station.

Consequential provision

5.  The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (London Underground Victoria Line 09TS Vehicles) Exemption Order 2008(5) is revoked.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order (article 3) exempts certain rail vehicles of the type 09TS from the specified requirements of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 where used on the Victoria Line. The exemptions are subject to conditions (article 4).

The exemption from the requirement to fit boarding devices to the doorways of wheelchair compatible doorways and the platform where vehicles are used at Pimlico station is of limited duration; it will cease to apply when there is step free access between the street and the Victoria Line platforms at that station. The remaining exemptions are without limitation of time, but the Secretary of State may revoke them by Order.

The Order revokes the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (London Underground Victoria Line 09TS Vehicles) Exemption Order 2008.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no cost to the business or voluntary sectors is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the instrument on the website www.legislation.gov.org.