§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the fleet of new trains to be introduced into service by Central Trains Ltd. and Anglia Railways Train Services Ltd. complies with the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [90800]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAs I explained in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) on 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 167, we are expecting to receive a number of exemption applications from train operating companies whose designs for new rail vehicles were well advanced prior to the 1998 Regulations coming into force.
We have received applications from both Central Trains Ltd. for their Class 170/5 rail vehicles and Anglia Railways Train Services Ltd. for their Class 170/2 rail vehicles. The exemptions have been assessed by our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. They are mostly of a minor nature and have been requested for a relatively short time only.
The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trains. Indeed we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people. Exemption Orders have been laid in Parliament today.