Great Western Railway’s plans to repaint a full rake of Mk 3s in blue and grey, to match 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange, were scuppered by the need to comply with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) rules.
The High Speed Train Class 43 power car was unveiled in the blue and yellow ‘Flying Banana’ livery carried by HST power cars in their early careers (following the delivery of the ‘43s’ from 1976).
The repaint was carried out by GWR to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the HST (RAIL 800). However, many observers had asked why a full rake of stock was not repainted to match the ‘43’. HST stock was delivered in blue and grey livery when built.
GWR spokesman Dan Panes said that GWR had investigated the possibility, but because the livery would not have been authentic, the operator decided not to repaint a rake of stock.
Under DDA rules, doors must be a different colour scheme to that of the main bodyside, so that they are distinguishable to passengers with visibility problems.
- For more on 43002's repaint, read RAIL 800, available now on shelves until May 24.
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Justin McAree - 24/05/2016 04:20
Err.. DDA was repealed by the Equality Act in 2010. Also is the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2010 and the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008 that apply to pre-1998 rolling stock if and when they are refurbished, which would include re-livery.
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jbzoom - 24/05/2016 04:43
I suspect doors are differently coloured to assist passengers with vision, rather than visibility, problems. If any GWR passengers have, indeed, developed invisibility, we should like a photograph ;-)
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jbzoom - 24/05/2016 04:43
I suspect doors are differently coloured to assist passengers with vision, rather than visibility, problems. If any GWR passengers have, indeed, developed invisibility, we should like a photograph ;-)
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JoeSpud - 11/05/2017 12:55
All train Passengers should know that the doors are at each end of the coach on an Inter City, or, regional train, we have NEVER had them in the middle, so, they don't need to be a different colour, you just look for the door handle, it's been like that for 75 years, or, more!!!!!!!!
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