Standard template contracts & conditions

On this page

• Station access contracts
• Station Access Agreements
• Station access conditions and annexes
• Related documents

Station Access Contracts

We have created this diagram to explain the relationships created under station leases and station access contracts and the inter-relationship of documents.

Station Access Agreements

We have made available standard template station access contracts. Each station access agreement incorporates by reference the relevant station access conditions and station-specific annexes.

• Passenger Station Access Agreement (single station) for contracts between a station facility owner and the operator of regular scheduled passenger train services
• Passenger Station Access Agreement (multiple station) for contracts between a station facility owner and the operator of regular scheduled passenger train services
• Freight Station Access Agreement for contracts between a station facility owner and a freight company
• Charter Station Access Agreement for contracts between a station facility owner and the operator of passenger train services that do not follow a regular scheduled pattern
• Diversionary Station Access Agreement for contracts between a station facility owner and a beneficiary when engineering works prevent access to the station which the beneficiary would otherwise be using under its existing access agreement

Each station access contract incorporates by reference the relevant station access conditions and station-specific annexes.

Station access conditions and annexes

The station access conditions are standard rules which govern the relationship between all the contracting parties at a station, covering matters such as the process for agreeing changes to the station, and the remedies available when things go wrong. Three sets of station access conditions are available:

• National Station Access Conditions 1996 (England and Wales)
• National Station Access Conditions 1996 (Scotland)
• Independent Station Access Conditions (1996 edition - incorporating amendments with effect from 4 February 2009) - these apply to the stations operated by Network Rail
• Station Specific Annexes template

The station-specific annexes cover the details relevant to the specific station, such as a station plan and a description of the station facilities. At stations operated by franchisees, the annexes also include a copy of the standard collateral agreement between Network Rail and each beneficiary. Should the station facility owner fail to enforce the conditions, a beneficiary can enforce Network Rail's obligations under the station access conditions.

In May 2008, we consulted with the industry on a proposed modification to the Independent Station Access Conditions (1996) to allow the level of Qualifying Expenditure at Network Rail managed stations to be fixed for a period of five years, replacing the process of annual negotiations.

Following consideration of consultation responses, we concluded that we would modify the Independent Station Access Conditions. We issued our modification notice on 7 August 2008 and the modifications come into effect on 4 February 2009.

A copy of the consultation documentation can be found below.

Page last updated: 16 April 2008

Related documents