Impact assessment

Exemption for rail replacement coach services from the accessible information regulations

Regulations and impact assessments for an exemption from the technical requirements to provide audible and visible information for eligible operators using coaches for rail replacement services.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 17 October 2024
• Last updated: 30 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Unplanned Rail Replacement) Regulations 2026

PDF, 720 KB, 21 pages

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Final stage De Minimis Impact Assessment for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Unplanned Rail Replacement) Regulations 2026

PDF, 349 KB, 19 pages

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Equality Impact Assessment for for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Unplanned Rail Replacement) Regulations 2026

PDF, 247 KB, 13 pages

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The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026: March 2026 update

PDF, 166 KB, 2 pages

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De Minimis Impact Assessment for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023: March 2026 update

PDF, 461 KB, 21 pages

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Equality Impact Assessment for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023: March 2026 update

PDF, 317 KB, 21 pages

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Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) Regulations 2024

PDF, 706 KB, 16 pages

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De Minimis Impact Assessment for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023

PDF, 423 KB, 18 pages

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Equality Impact Assessment for the exemption of rail replacement coaches from the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023

PDF, 261 KB, 18 pages

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Details

The documents on this page relate to an exemption regime from the technical requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 (the accessible information regulations) for prescribed operators when using coaches to provide rail replacement services. A list of exempt operators is provided as a schedule to the exemption regulations.

2026 unplanned rail replacement exemption

The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Unplanned Rail Replacement) Regulations 2026 come into force on 1 August 2026.

These regulations:

• exempt prescribed operators’ coaches from the accessible information regulations when they are being used to provide unplanned rail replacement services
• supersede all previous exemptions from the accessible information regulations published on this page

The 2026 (Unplanned Rail Replacement) documents are:

• a copy of the regulations
• an impact assessment
• an equality impact assessment

Exemptions under this exemption regime expire on 1 February 2027.

Previous exemption documents

In September 2024, ministers signed into law the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) Regulations 2024 which created an exemption from specific provisions of the accessible information regulations for prescribed operators when using coaches to provide rail replacement services.

In March 2026, ministers signed into law the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) Regulations 2026, which:

• remove details of an operator whose licence number changed, inserting their new details
• include details of an operator that was previously omitted in error

The March 2026 regulations also introduce a mechanism allowing a prescribed operator whose licence number has changed to remain exempt, provided:

• the conditions continue to be met
• the operator notifies the Secretary of State for Transport by email to AIRExemptions@dft.gov.uk 
• the Secretary of State confirms this in writing

Exemptions under the 2024 exemption regime expire on 31 July 2026.

Published 17 October 2024

Last updated 30 July 2026 — Show all updates

1. 30 July 2026

   The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) (Prescribed Operator Exemptions and Modifications) (Unplanned Rail Replacement) Regulations 2026 come into force on 1 August 2026.

2. 17 October 2024

   First published.