The Transport Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force provisions of the Transport Act 2000 (“the Act”).

Provisions coming into force on 30th January 2001

Article 2 of the Order brings into force on 30th January 2001 powers for the Secretary of State to make schemes transferring the property, rights and liabilities of the British Railways Board and certain property rights and liabilities of the Rail Regulator to the Strategic Rail Authority. It also brings section 270 into force. This section amends sections 26 and 28 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and will enable school crossing patrols to operate at any time and for such crossings to be used by any pedestrians.

Provisions coming into force on 1st February 2001

Article 3(1) of the Order brings into force on 1st February 2001 sections in Parts I and IV of the Act relating to air traffic and railways and sections in Part V of the Act making provision for transport generally and provision supplementary to the remainder of the Act.

The sections relating to air traffic authorise the issue of licences for the provision of air traffic services and provide for the making of schemes to transfer property, rights and liabilities in connection with the provision of such services by a licence holder. The sections also provide for the CAA to be directed with regard to air navigation, to specify charges payable in respect of air services and to carry out competition functions concurrently with the Director General of Fair Trading.

The sections relating to railways complete the establishment of the Strategic Rail Authority and make further provision for the regulation of the railway industry.

The sections in Part V relate to—

• charges for street works on highways,

• driver training and driving instructors,

• the licensing of operators of goods services,

• vehicle type approvals,

• the licensing of private hire vehicles,

• the enforcement of requirements relating to drivers' hours,

• appeals relating to London Service permits,

• quiet lanes and home zones,

• financial assistance for inland waterway and sea freight, and

• offences committed under a provision of the Act.

Provisions coming into force on 1st February 2001 as regards England

Article 3(2) brings into force on 1st February 2001, as respects England only, sections in Parts II and III of the Act relating to local and road transport.

The sections in Part II—

• impose requirements upon local transport authorities to produce local transport plan and bus strategies,

• extend the powers of local authorities in respect of the provision of information about bus services and the making of ticketing schemes (including the imposition of a competition test),

• extend the power of traffic commissioners to make traffic regulation conditions,

• give the Secretary of State powers to make regulations about penalty charges for bus lane contraventions (but only as respects areas in England outside Greater London), and

• make new financial provision in respect of public passenger transport services.

The sections in Part III of the Act provide powers for local traffic authorities outside London to impose road user charges and workplace parking levies and will require the spending of revenues on measures for improving local transport. They will also permit joint schemes to be made in relation to such matters.