Access for passenger operators

For guidance on how to apply for a track access contract for a passenger operator (including charter and open access) please read our Criteria and procedures for the approval of track access contracts ( PDF 1149 Kb) (C&Ps).

Potential new entrants to the market should familiarise themselves with our Starting Mainline Rail Operations ( PDF 832 Kb) document.

We advise all applicants to use our model contracts, provided below.

For international passenger operators wishing to apply for access to operate cross-border services, we have produced guidance on the assessment of new international passenger services ( PDF 345 Kb).

For previous policy decisions and workstreams, please see the policy and document archive.

For previous access application decisions, please see our decisions library or, for decisions in the last six months, the relevant decisions page.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Application form

Applicants should use a Form P application form (for passenger operators, including charter and open access operators) for all applications under sections 17-22A. The form is available below in Word and PDF format:

• Word version ( Word 209 Kb)
• PDF version ( PDF 163 Kb)

Model contracts

Applicants are advised to begin with the passenger model contract. Further guidance on this can be found in our C&Ps document above.

• Passenger model contract:
  • Track access passenger model contract - May 2012 ( DOC 1308 Kb).
  • Track access passenger model contract - May 2012 ( PDF 814 Kb).
• Charter trains model contract:
  • Track access model contract (Charter Passenger Services) – 20 April 2011 ( DOC 683 Kb).
  • Track access model contract (Charter Passenger Services) – 20 April 2011 ( PDF 437 Kb).
• Model clause Relevant Schedule 8 Modifications provision ( DOC 45 Kb).

Passenger general approvals

We have powers under sections 18 and 22 of the Act to grant general approvals. The current passenger general approvals are listed below:

• The Passenger Access (Short Term Timetable and Miscellaneous Changes) General Approval 2009 ( PDF 62 Kb) permits Network Rail and a train operator to make amends to their track access agreement particular types of amendment, subject to certain conditions without our specific approval. The amendments permitted are described in the general approval, which includes an explanatory note. Any amendments beyond those permitted will require our specific approval under section 22 or directions under section 22A of the Act;
• The Passenger Access (Model Contract Amendments) General Approval 2007 ( PDF 20 Kb) allows any amendments which are necessary to passenger track access agreements to reflect the version of the passenger model contract published on 19 July 2007; and
• Passenger Access (Model Charter Track Access Contract) General Approval 2009 ( PDF 31 Kb) permits Network Rail and charter train operators to enter into track access contracts based on the charter model contract ( Word 683 Kb) for the provision of passenger charter services and to make certain specified amendments to such contracts.

Last updated: 11 May 2012

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