§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the performance of train operating companies to date in complying with their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 section 21(2)(d) to take reasonable steps to provide disabled persons with a reasonable alternative method of accessing their services where a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons to make use of those services; [175684]
(2) what assessment he has made of the performance of train operating companies to date on revising and implementing new Disabled People's Protection Policies in line with the Strategic Rail Authority's Code of Practice on Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers and Guidance on Disabled People's Protection Policies; [175685]
(3) what assessment he has made of the performance of train operating companies to date on conducting access audits and making changes to physical features to prepare for the new duties on physical access coming into force under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on 1 October. [175686]
§ Mr. McNultyIt is the responsibility of each train operator to comply with the requirements of Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. All operators have been required by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to review their Disabled People's Protection Policy (DPPP). As part of the review each train operator has undertaken access audits of the facilities it operates. Train operators have a commitment to meet the services, standards and guidance defined in the SRA's Code of Practice when refurbishing rolling stock, providing new or enhanced facilities at stations and for the provision of services at stations and on trains. All train operators either have a revised DPPP approved by the SRA or are seeking such approval. Twenty Train Operating Company Disabled People's Protection Policies have been approved to date. Each revised DPPP places an obligation on the operator to provide a 'reasonable alternative means' of making a journey accessible to disabled passengers where physical barriers preclude them from doing so.