# The Train Driving Licences and Certificates (Amendment) Regulations 2015, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”) in order to implement Commission Directive 2014/82/EU of 24th June 2014 amending Directive 2007/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards general professional knowledge and medical and licence requirements (O.J No. L184, 25.6.14, p.11).
The 2010 Regulations establish a regime for the licensing and certification of train drivers who drive trains on the mainline railway network. The licence is recognised by other European Member States and indicates satisfaction of medical checks and possession of general professional competence. The certificate indicates the infrastructure on which the holder is authorised to drive and the rolling stock which the holder is authorised to drive.
Regulation 2(3) amends Schedule 1 to the 2010 Regulations so as to remove the option which permitted drivers who had lost binocular vision after starting work as a train driver to continue to drive trains providing suitable adaptations could be made.
Regulation 2(4) replaces Schedule 3 to the 2010 Regulations on general professional knowledge with revised and more detailed provisions on the requirement for general professional knowledge.
Regulation 2(5) replaces paragraph 8 of Schedule 4 to the 2010 Regulations to introduce a new standard for language tests where drivers have to communicate on safety critical issues. The new standard will therefore require drivers for the train operating company providing cross border services to have additional written language training.
Under the 2010 Regulations the Office of Rail and Road (“the ORR”) must suspend or withdraw a train driving licence where it is no longer satisfied that the conditions required for holding it are satisfied. Where the ORR considers that the holder of a train driving certificate no longer satisfies the conditions required for holding a train driving certificate it must ask the body that issued the certificate to review the holder’s eligibility to hold the certificate or for the certificate to be suspended or withdrawn. Pending any suspension or withdrawal of the train driving certificate the ORR may prohibit the holder from driving a train in Great Britain.
Regulation 3 provides transitional provisions for drivers who have obtained a train driving licence before 1st January 2016.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as this measure qualifies as “low-cost” as its gross cost to business in any year is under £1m. The costs of implementing this measure will fall on Train Operating Companies as they will need to apply the changes. No impact on the costs of the public sector, third sector organisations, regulators or consumers is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the instrument on the website www.legislation.gov.uk

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1798/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/train-driving-licences-and-certificates-amendment-regulations-2015/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.