The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998

Toilets for disabled persons in wheelchairs

20.—(1) If a regulated rail vehicle or train is equipped with toilets the nearest toilet cubicle to a wheelchair space or wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment shall comply with the requirements in regulation 14 and with the following requirements:

(a) the exterior of the toilet cubicle door shall be marked with a sign conforming to diagram C in the Schedule;

(b) the width of the doorway shall be not less than 850 millimetres;

(c) the surface of the toilet seat when lowered shall be not less than 475 millimetres and not more than 485 millimetres vertically above the floor of the toilet cubicle;

(d) the toilet cubicle shall be equipped with facilities to enable a disabled person in a wheelchair to wash and dry his hands without moving from the seat of the toilet;

(e) there shall be sufficient space inside the toilet cubicle for a reference wheelchair to be positioned in front of the toilet and to be positioned at one side of the toilet so that it is possible for a disabled person to move from a reference wheelchair on to the toilet seat from the front or the side of the toilet;

(f) there shall be hinged handrail beside the toilet which shall—

(i) be on the same side of the toilet as the space for the reference wheelchair;

(ii) comply with the requirements in paragraph (2) of regulation 11; and

(iii) comply with the specifications in diagrams D1 and D2 in the Schedule.

(g) beside the toilet and on the opposite side to the space for the reference wheelchair there shall be a horizontal handrail which shall comply with the requirements in paragraph (2) of regulation 11;

(h) the toilet cubicle shall be fitted with not less than two devices to enable a disabled person to communicate in an emergency with a person who is in a position to take appropriate action, one to be placed not more than 450 millimetres above the floor measured vertically from the surface of the floor to the top of the control device and the other to be not less than 800 millimetres and not more than 1200 millimetres above the floor measured vertically to the top of the control;

(i) each such control shall be operable by the palm of a person’s hand exerting a force not greater than 30 newtons.

(2) The passageway between the wheelchair space or wheelchair-compatible sleeping compartment and that toilet cubicle shall be not less than 850 millimetres wide at any point and provide a space adjacent to that toilet cubicle for the disabled person in the reference wheelchair to turn the wheelchair around through one hundred and eighty degrees.