WEST Coast Railways’ exemption to operate rolling stock without central door locking (CDL) was revoked by the rail regulator on January 10, after a judicial review rejected WCR’s challenge against the decision to ban such vehicles (RE333).
This means that any coaching stock not fitted with CDL cannot be operated, however WCR is able to continue operating its trains if it uses stock fitted with the safety equipment, or if it is the operator for other companies, such as Pathfinder Tours trains using Riviera Trains stock, if it is fitted with CDL.
Having expressed its “serious disappointment” regarding the regulator’s decision, WCR has urged the ORR to reconsider its decision.
An ORR spokesperson told Rail Express that WCR’s Regulation 5 exemption had been revoked. They said: “Rolling stock without central door locking fitted or a valid Regulation 5 Railway Safety Regulation 1999 exemption is not permitted to run on the main line. Other charter heritage operators, which use the main line railway, have made the necessary investment to install central door locking on ‘hinged door’ rolling stock (or have committed to do so over a transition period) and it remains open to WCR to do the same.”
ORR had decided early
