New section 47A: Rail vehicle accessibility compliance certificates
85.Section 47A(1) prohibits a regulated rail vehicle from being used for carriage unless a valid compliance certificate has been issued for that vehicle. It should be noted that this subsection applies only to vehicles prescribed in regulations made under subsection (2).
86.Subsection (2) is a regulation-making power which enables the Secretary of State to prescribe vehicles which will require a certificate. If, as intended, the power is exercised to prescribe new rail vehicles and rail vehicles that are refurbished, the power will also enable regulations to set a date from which time those vehicles will have to be certified.
87.Subsection (3) describes a rail vehicle accessibility compliance certificate. A certificate’s purpose is to indicate that the Secretary of State is satisfied that a rail vehicle is compliant with those provisions of RVAR with which it is required to conform. The provisions with which vehicles are required to conform will be prescribed in the RVAR, including different requirements in the case of refurbished vehicles where, depending on the extent of the refurbishment work, not all the provisions may apply.
88.Subsection (4) provides a general power to enable certificates to be made subject to conditions. For example, an operator could be required to inform the Secretary of State if there was a change in the operating company or if the vehicle was used on a different service.
89.Subsections (5) and (6) make provision in respect of the refusal of the Secretary of State to issue a certificate. An applicant can ask the Secretary of State, within a timescale to be set in regulations, to review his decision. A fee can be charged for such a review. The Secretary of State must review the decision taking into account any written representations submitted by the applicant within the timescale set in regulations.
