Article 8: Rail vehicles: application of accessibility regulations
30.Article 8 enables the Department for Regional Development to achieve the policy objectives of applying rail vehicle accessibility regulations to all rail vehicles constructed or adapted to carry passengers. This will include older rail vehicles i.e. those first brought into use before 1st January 1999 which must also comply with the requirements of the regulations by an ‘end date’ of 1st January 2020. It will also enable the Department to apply the regulations to older rail vehicles once they are refurbished. Article 8 will also require that exemptions are granted only by Statutory Order and that the Department will be required to provide an annual report on any such exemptions granted.
