The following has come through from the ORR today:
ORR has today published its response to that consultation, alongside revised and updated ATP Guidance for train companies. This introduces new rules designed to maximise the use of available accessible buses and coaches during disruption to the rail network, and to ensure passengers have the information they need to plan accessible journeys when trains are not running. and ensure passengers are aware of the routes. We have published an impact assessment of these new rules. The revised Guidance also includes details of the new safeguarding measures railway companies must put in place to ensure alighting assistance is reliably provided by station staff to passengers that request it.
In addition, ORR has today written to the Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, highlighting consultation respondents’ views that wider non-regulatory reform may also be needed to incentivise greater availability of accessible vehicles for use during rail disruption.
Alongside this, ORR has written to Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group, setting out a number of proposals from consultation respondents that we have determined are more suitable for wider industry consideration than inclusion in the ATP Guidance. We have also proposed that an industry forum be set up to help identify and better manage the availability and use of accessible vehicles at times of high demand.
All the documents published today can be found on the ORR website: https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-consultations/consultation-accessible-travel-policy-guidance-accessibility-rail-replacement