Explanatory note

This Order authorises the use of the vehicle known as the Festiniog Railway Company’s third class saloon carriage number 122, as built and owned by the Festiniog Railway Company for use on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways even though it does not comply with certain requirements of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (S.I. 1998/2456, amended by S.I. 2000/3215) because:

• there is no audible warning device fitted to the doorways;

• the width of the priority seats is less than the minimum required;

• no handrails are fitted on the interior of the external doorways;

• more force than is permitted is required to operate the door handles;

• there is no public address system; and

• there is no wheelchair space.

The Order imposes conditions on the authorisation and sets a time limit on the exemption concerning the public address system.