Following the ruling by the High Court in December 2023 that the ORR’s decision not to grant an exemption was lawful, the ORR has now formally revoked West Coast Railways' exemption from from the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR99).
Without the ORR exemption, West Coast Railways cannot operate hinged door carriages on the main line unless central door locking is in place.
The immediate effects of this is likely to be the postponement or cancellation of railtours operated by West Coast Railways, or the use of hired-in third party rollling stock. The first charter of 2024 operated by West Coast Railways, was the Railway Touring Company's 'WInter Cumbrian mountain Express" on the 27th January ran with with West Coast Railways' Mk2 air braked/air condiationed rake, which was already fitted with central door locking (from British Rail times) and hauled by 34067 Tangmere, which has air braking fitted.
Railtour Info will report the full effects of today's annoncement in due course and in our Railtour listings.

[Click Here] for the ORR Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR99).