I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
anything special about these ramps and their trains, or did VT buy some
ramps and they dont want anyone else to use 'em?

"Joe"  wrote in message 
news:1121866208.764928.27670@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

>I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
> wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
> only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
> anything special about these ramps and their trains, or did VT buy some
> ramps and they dont want anyone else to use 'em?
>

Its more of C.Y.A. and safety, they are only approved for use on Virgin 
Trains, and if you use it on anything else, and something goes wrong, Virgin 
don't carry the blame,   and likewise vice versa with operators.  Why should 
VT seek to get a safety case from a train they theoretically can't  even 
examine...

"Joe"  wrote in message
news:1121866208.764928.27670@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

> I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
> wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
> only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
> anything special about these ramps and their trains, or did VT buy some
> ramps and they dont want anyone else to use 'em?
>


I saw one of these at Gloucester station which I thought was funny as they
only get one or two services a day.

On 20 Jul 2005 06:30:08 -0700 someone who may be "Joe"
 wrote this:-


>I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
>wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
>only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
>anything special about these ramps and their trains,


Yes, they have higher internal floors than many trains. Inside the
edge of the external doors (certainly on 22xs and ISTR 390s though I
have not looked inside them as much) you will see two holes. These
holes are for the pegs fitted to the red ramps and are designed to
stop the risk of the ramp falling down if someone is walking on it.

I once thought this an example of daftness typical of the brave new
railway, but when it was explained to me here then I changed my
mind.


-- 
 David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
 I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
 prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

In article <42de6360$0$89012$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net>,
Pete_uk  wrote:


> "Joe"  wrote in message
> news:1121866208.764928.27670@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> > I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
> > wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
> > only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
> > anything special about these ramps and their trains, or did VT buy some
> > ramps and they dont want anyone else to use 'em?
> >
> 
> I saw one of these at Gloucester station which I thought was funny as they
> only get one or two services a day.


Since they are specifically designed for VT's trains (see David
Hansen's posting) they'd need one if there was only one train a week.

Sam

Joe wrote:

> I have seen a few wheelchair ramps lately, painted red, alongside other
> wheelchair ramps with the sticker "To be used on Virgin Trains services
> only." These ramps look identical to the other (yellow ones). Is there
> anything special about these ramps and their trains, or did VT buy some
> ramps and they dont want anyone else to use 'em?


The red ramps have two pegs which fit into corresponding holes in the
floor edge in the train doorway.  They can't be used on other trains
because there's nowhere for the pegs to go.  The pegless yellow ramps
most likely aren't considered secure enough for the Virgin trains -
they may slip off the door entrance.  Of course they could do this on
other trains too but they were around before post-privatisation safety
over-regulation so can continue to be used.

I strongly suspect that Virgin had to switch to the pegged ramps in
order to incur the extra costs necessary so they could more easily meet
the new safety at any price safety policies.

jb