Ministers have criticised train and light rail operators for failing to meet a deadline to make trains accessible but have allowed them to continue using non-compliant rolling stock.

Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP has written to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail firms, ‘to make clear his dissatisfaction at the need for some operators to retain rail carriages which do not comply with modern rail accessibility standards for some months beyond 1 January 2020’.

Transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton wrote in similar terms to the operators of metro systems in London, Glasgow and Newcastle.

However, the ministers granted dispensation to the operators to continue to use non-compliant carriages – in some cases for at least the next year.

Mr Heaton-Harris wrote: ‘Owners and operators have had 10 years to prepare for the 31 December 2019 deadline. It is deeply frustrating that disabled passengers will still be waiting into 2020 to see accessibility improvements to some services.'

He claimed that the secretary of state’s powers to permit non-compliant vehicles to continue in operation ‘has not been used lightly and should never result in detriment to the quality of disabled passengers’ journeys’.

He added: ‘However, despite such a significant period of time for the rail industry to prepare, I understand that were all non-compliant trains removed from service there would be a disproportionately negative effect on the provision of services for passengers.

‘Thus I have reluctantly agreed to issue strictly time-limited dispensation notices to a number of operators for around 1,200 carriages in the national fleet.’

Mr Heaton-Harris claimed that the dispensation had ‘two major conditions attached’. However, these were that operators provide evidence ‘that the introduction of new or refurbished vehicles remains on track’ and understand that they are required to provide assistance to disabled passengers ‘where possible’.

The RDG said nine rail firms were between them introducing 1,000 new and upgraded carriages during 2020.

It said new trains on the Merseyrail network feature a sliding step to allow step free access between the platform and the train while new Greater Anglia trains ‘benefit from lower level floors and a retractable step at each door, making them more accessible for wheelchairs, buggies and people with reduced mobility’.