The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Midland Mainline Class 170/1 Vehicles) Exemption Order 2001

10.—(1) Where pursuant to article 8 above a wheelchair space is provided in the train but not in the exempted vehicles, paragraphs (2) to (5) below shall apply in relation to the vehicle in which that space is provided.

(2) There shall be no obstruction that prevents or renders unreasonably difficult the passage of a reference wheelchair between the wheelchair space in question and the nearest doorway on each side of the vehicle.

(3) Any such doorway shall be wide enough to permit a disabled person in a reference wheelchair to board and alight from that vehicle without unreasonable difficulty.

(4) While any such doorway is open at a platform at a station, a ramp must be fitted between that platform and the vehicle if a disabled person in a wheelchair wishes to use that doorway, unless the gap between the edge of the door sill of that doorway and the edge of the platform is not more than 75 millimetres measured horizontally and not more than 50 millimetres measured vertically.

(5) Any ramp provided pursuant to paragraph (4) above—

(a) shall allow a disabled person in a reference wheelchair to board and alight from that vehicle in safety and without unreasonable difficulty; and

(b) when not in use, shall be fixed securely to the train in question so that it does not endanger the safety of persons in that train.