relaxation of rules when bus replacements in operation

[whole diary]

[infoman]

Coaches on rail-replacement work can be granted a temporary exemption from complying with Accessible Information Regulations (AIR),
which are due to come into force on Tuesday 1 October 2024.
the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) has revealed to trade bodies.
This will apply till July 2026.

[ChrisB]

Where did you get this important info?

[bobm]

https://www.route-one.net/news/air-exemption-offered-to-coaches-used-on-rail-replacement-work/#:~:text=Coaches%20on%20rail%2Dreplacement%20work,has%20revealed%20to%20trade%20bodies.

Coaches on rail-replacement work can be granted a temporary exemption from complying with Accessible Information Regulations (AIR), which are due to come into force on 1 October, the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) has revealed to trade bodies.

Concern had been expressed that the new regulations could mean that smaller operators in particular could lose out on work and that rail operators would be unable to find sufficient cover.

However, coaches with more than 16 passengers used on rail-replacement work on what is defined as a “local service” will now be able to apply to be exempt until July 2026 from the need to meet the specific technical rules over audio and visual announcements.

[stuving]

Note that these regulations are about Accessible Information. That (from CPT) is:

Exemptions are provided in relation to the technical requirements of the accessible information, such as text height, decibel levels, alert sounds, and the need for hearing loops to be provided. These exemptions will run until 31st July 2026, in line with MTEs issued for PSVAR.

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) stresses that the legal requirements to provide key route, direction and next stop announcements at the prescribed times must still be adhered to. Furthermore, the Department reminds operators that audio or verbal announcement information should be mirrored in visual format.

The MTEs referred to there are medium-term exemptions, issued under a scheme introduced (and closed to new applications) in 2022. The was about the physical accessibility of coaches, and imposed an increasing level of compliance of a fleet basis. Confusingly, the scheme itself didn't use the term MTE!