Mark I and hinged door rolling stock exemptions

What do the regulations say?

The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR) required the withdrawal of unmodified Mark I rolling stock from 1 January 2005. The stock is less crashworthy than modern stock and the risks posed to passengers are from pull down windows and the absence of central door locking.

RSR regulation 4 prohibited the operation of Mark I rolling stock after 31 December 2002 unless it had been modified to prevent, so far as practicable, over-riding in the event of a collision.

RSR regulation 5 prohibited the operation of hinged door rolling stock without central locking from 1 January 2005.

RSR regulation 6 provides us with a wide-ranging power to grant exemptions. We are able to consider all circumstances of the case in reaching a decision. 

What do we take into account before deciding on granting an exemption?

We not only consider existing safety risks and requirements, we can also consider practicalities, costs, possible disruption to services, severe overcrowding, the transfer of risk to other modes of transport and the possible introduction of new risks.

If you consider that you require an exemption for Mark 1 or hinged door rolling stock please contact Chandrika Shah.

Consultation on conditions in exemptions

On 16 March 2011 we consulted stakeholders on the proposal to allow train operators to operate Mark I (MK I) passenger rolling stock on the national network without barrier vehicles and with passengers permitted to travel in leading vehicles (subject to certain conditions).

The final letter to the exemption holders ( PDF 130 Kb) on the reissuing of their exemptions in the new model template and the notice of revocation for their existing exemptions which were replaced is available, as well as the letter to Network Rail ( PDF 49 Kb).

Regulations 4 and 5 Exemptions in force

Company	Decision
DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd	DB Schenker certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Great Scottish and Western Railway Holdings Limited	GSWR certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Great Western Society Ltd	GWS certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Hastings Diesels Limited	Hastings Diesels certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
London Underground Ltd	LUL certificates Regulation 5 exemption - Infrastructure Regulation 5 exemption - Operator
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Enterprises PLC	NYMR certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust	PRCL certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Railfilms Ltd	Railfilms Ltd certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Rampart Carriage and Wagon Services Ltd	Rampart Ltd certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Riviera Trains Ltd	Riviera Trains Ltd certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) Railtours Limited	SRPS certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Limited (British Pullman)	VSOE British Pullman certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Limited (Northern Belle)	VSOE Northern Belle certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption
West Coast Railway Company Limited	WCRC certificates Regulation 3 exemption Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption Network Rail certificates Regulation 3 exemption Regulation 4 exemption Regulation 5 exemption

Last updated: April 2013