Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (South Central Class 377/4) Exemption Order 2004 and shall come into force on 31st December 2004.

Interpretation

2. In this Order—

(a) any reference to a numbered vehicle is a reference to a vehicle which forms part of the fleet of electric multiple-units numbered 377401 to 377475, of the class known as “Class 377/4”, as manufactured by Bombardier Transportation (UK) Limited for use by South Central Limited; and

(b) any reference to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation bearing that number in the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998( 2 ).

Authorisation and exemptions

3. Subject to articles 4 and 5–

(a) the vehicles numbered 73401 to 73437 and 73801 to 73837 are authorised to be used for carriage even though they do not conform with regulation 11(3), in so far as it requires two seats situated towards the centre of each numbered vehicle to be fitted with a handhold in accordance with that regulation; and

(b) the vehicles numbered 78601 to 78675 are authorised to be used for carriage even though they do not conform with regulation 14(b), in so far as it applies to the deployment of a folding nappy-changing table in any toilet cubicle to which regulation 20 applies.

Expiry

4. —(1) The authorisation given by article 3(a), in respect of regulation 11(3), shall cease at the end of May 2006.

(2) The authorisation given by article 3(b), in respect of regulation 14(b), shall cease at the end of August 2009.

5. The authorisation given by article 3 shall cease immediately in respect of any numbered vehicle if the electric multiple-unit of which that vehicle forms a part is operated by a person other than South Central Limited unless the Secretary of State has been given written notice in advance specifying the name and address of that other person.