ORR launches track access option policy
17 January 2008
ORR/03/08
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today publishes its policy on the way in which it will assess track access option applications. An access option is a contract reserving rights of access to a railway facility for a period of years at some point in the future.
By obtaining an access option, potential investors in railway facilities will do so in the knowledge that they have rights securing:
- capacity underpinning their investment; and
- that this capacity can be used by its designated train operator once the works are complete.
The development of the East London Line and Crossrail are two examples of where track access options securing future rights have been sought by those developing the schemes.
ORR’s policy seeks to strike a balance between:
- providing sufficient assurance to investors that they will have access to the network for a considerable period of time; and
- ensuring the most beneficial use and development of the railway network, both now and in the future.
Bill Emery, ORR’s Chief Executive, said:
“With the increasing amount of customer demand on the rail industry it is important that we encourage increased investment in the railways to help meet future demand. Our policy on access options sets out how we will grant the reservation of access rights, providing greater certainty to potential investors to encourage their investment in the rail network. These rights will be time limited to ensure in the longer term that there are no long term constraints on the best use of the railway.”
Notes to editors
- ORR set out its proposed approach on access options in a consultation document on 15 January 2007 at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/313.pdf.
- Consultation responses were received on 23 March 2007 and can be seen at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8623
- ORR published emerging conclusions on 23 August 2007 at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/334-accopt.pdf.
- Consultation responses were received on 31 October 2007 and can be seen at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.9014.
- ORR’s final conclusions and policy document can be found at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/349.pdf and http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/350.pdf respectively.
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ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2188/2007
