Review of freight charging policy

This page contains all documents relating to the review of freight charging policy 2001.

Scope of review

As part of the periodic review of Railtrack's access charges for franchised passenger train services, the Regulator made a commitment to undertake a review of freight charging policy for completion in 2001.

Conclusions

This review was published on 18 October 2001 and the conclusions established that there were strong reasons for reducing the access charges paid by freight operators for use of the rail network and for the introduction of a more transparent and deterministic charging framework. The effect of the review was that the charges that freight operators paid to the network operator would be on average halved.

The changes in freight charges should facilitate growth in rail-freight, contributing to the Government's objective of a substantial increase in the period of the Ten-Year Plan and delivering social and environmental benefits by relieving road congestion and reducing air pollution.

The review represented a radical shift from the previous negotiation-based approach to an essentially tariff-based approach. It took account of increased competitive pressures from other transport modes and recent decisions on 44 tonne lorries and vehicle/fuel duty which had given road haulage a competitive edge over rail. The shortfall in the network operators revenue from freight operations resulting from the freight charging review, some £500 million over the current control period, would be funded by the Strategic Rail Authority (later Department for Transport).

Freight charges have since been reviewed as part of the Periodic review 2008.

 

Related documents

The following documents are available for download as PDF files.

Policy documents

18 Oct 2001

Review of freight charging policy - Final conclusions - (Press notice)

  
5 Apr 2001 Review of freight charging policy - Provisional conclusions - (Press notice) Responses
30 Nov 2000

Review of freight charging policy - Consultation on Costs - (Press notice)

 Responses

31 Aug 2000

Review of freight charging policy - Emerging views on key issues - (Press notice)

  

26 May 2000

Review of freight charging policy - A consultation document - (Press notice)

 Responses
Supporting documents

29 Oct 2002

Usage charge price list - (Excel format)

  

7 Nov 2000 -
9 Jan 2001

Proceedings at a hearing on freight charging policy

  

Last updated 1 February 2008

Consultants' reports