Regulator proposes more effective contractual regime for station access
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| 2 June 2000 Regulator proposes more effective contractual regime for station accessProposals to replace the complex station access arrangements put in place at the time of privatisation were published today by Tom Winsor, the Rail Regulator. Today's proposals provide an improved framework for stationdevelopment. This should meet the needs of a modern railway and support theconsiderable investment which operators and Shadow Strategic Rail Authority are currently considering aspart of the franchise replacement programme. Introducing the document, which is part of his periodic review of Railtrack'saccess charges, Tom Winsor said: "Stations provide the passenger's firstpoint of contact with the railway. They are key to general perceptions and therealities ofthe quality of passenger rail service. "The existing arrangements for operating, maintaining and renewingstations are more complex than for Railtrack's network assets. The demands onsuch arrangements are also different. I am therefore overhauling these arrangements to ensurethat they meet the current and future needs of the railway industry, inparticular those associated with franchise replacement and other significantinvestment programmes. This consultation document addresses the charges paid by operators for accessto stations and the incentives for all parties to execute their obligations. Italso considers the scope for simplification of the contractual arrangements. InSeptember, Iintend to publish my final conclusions on the periodic review of Railtrack'saccess charges andexpect other changes to the station access conditions to be introduced beforethe end of the year. Together these changes will provide the framework for thestation improvements required for a modern railway." Copies of "The periodic review of Railtrack's access charges:Provisional conclusions on station charges and Consultation on the stationaccess regime" and a Lambert Smith Hampton report on the Station AccessRegime are available on this site as Acrobat Adobe PDF documents or in hardcopy from Sue MacSwan, ORR Library, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142Holborn, London EC1N 2TQ. Tel: 020 7282 2001; fax: 020 7282 2045; e-mail: rail.library@orr.gsi.gov.uk.   Copyright © 2000 Office of the Rail Regulator |
