Paragraph 1 Boarding devices
Subject to sub-paragraph (2), when a wheelchair-compatible doorway in a rail vehicle is open at a platform at a station, or at a stop, a boarding device must be fitted by the operator between that doorway and the platform, or the stop, if a disabled person in a wheelchair wishes to use that doorway.
Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply where the gap between the edge of the door sill of the wheelchair-compatible doorway and the platform, or stop, is not more than 75 millimetres measured horizontally and not more than 50 millimetres measured vertically.
No boarding device other than a lift or ramp may be used.
If a rail vehicle is fitted with a lift the following requirements must be complied with—
the lift-platform must be not less than 750 millimetres wide measured parallel to the side of the rail vehicle, and not less than 1200 millimetres long measured at a right angle to the side of the rail vehicle;
the lift-platform must be capable of supporting a weight of not less than 300 kilograms (excluding its own weight);
the lift-platform must be marked on its upper surface by a strip of colour which must—
abut all the edges of the lift-platform surface;
be not less than 50 millimetres wide; and
contrast with the remainder of the lift-platform surface;
any vertical sides of the lift-platform must be coloured with the same colour as that of the strip of colour required under paragraph (c);
the lift-platform surface must be slip-resistant;
the lift-platform must not travel up or down at a speed in excess of 150 millimetres per second;
the lift-platform must rest on the surface of the platform or stop when it has been fully lowered;
save when necessary to enable access to and egress from the lift, the lift-platform must, when in use, deploy a device with a height of not less than 100 millimetres measured from the surface of the lift-platform to prevent a wheelchair rolling off;
the lift-platform must be fitted with sensors capable of stopping its movement if it comes into contact with any thing or person whilst in motion;
the lift must only be operated by the operator of the rail vehicle;
the operator of the rail vehicle must provide assistance to a disabled person in a wheelchair wishing to use the lift;
if the lift is power operated it must also be operable manually if the power-operation fails; and
it must not be operable unless the rail vehicle has stopped at a station or stop.
If the boarding device is a ramp, the following requirements must be complied with—
when in use it must be fixed securely to the rail vehicle;
it must be not less than 800 millimetres wide and not wider than the opening of the wheelchair-compatible doorway;
it must have along each side which is not to be crossed by the wheelchair a protective rim with a height of not less than 50 millimetres measured from the surface of the ramp to prevent a wheelchair rolling off;
the protective rims must be coloured on each side with the same colour as that of the strip of colour required under paragraph (g);
it must be capable of supporting a weight of not less than 300 kilograms (excluding its own weight);
when in use its outer end must rest securely on the surface of the platform or stop;
it must be marked on its upper surface by a strip of colour which must—
abut all the edges of its surface;
be not less than 50 millimetres wide; and
contrast with the remainder of its surface;
its surface must be slip-resistant; and
the operator of the rail vehicle must provide assistance to a disabled person in a wheelchair wishing to use the ramp unless the gradient of the ramp above the horizontal plane is eight per cent or less.
If a rail vehicle is fitted with a power operated ramp the following requirements must be complied with, in addition to those indicated in sub-paragraph (5)—
if the ramp is to be operated by a disabled person in a wheelchair the control for the ramp must be adjacent to the wheelchair-compatible doorway, on both the outside and inside of the rail vehicle, and within reach of a person in a reference wheelchair;
the ramp must be fitted, along its outer end, with a sensor capable of stopping the movement of that ramp if it comes into contact with any thing or person whilst the ramp is in movement;
the ramp must be incapable of movement if the surface of the ramp is subjected to a load of 15 kilograms or more;
the ramp must not be operable unless the rail vehicle has stopped at a station or stop; and
the ramp must be operable manually if the power operation fails, and the operator of the rail vehicle must provide assistance to a disabled person in a wheelchair wishing to use the ramp in these circumstances.
A lift or ramp which is carried by a rail vehicle and which is not in use must be fixed securely to the vehicle so that it does not endanger the safety of persons in that vehicle.