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Access for freight customers

We have developed simple and transparent model track access contracts for freight customers. The model contracts provide freight customers with control over the exercise of their own access rights associated with the movement of their goods.

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

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

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

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.

Model contracts

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

General approval

We have developed a general approval (removing the need for specific ORR approval) for freight customers.

The Freight Customer General Approval 2011 (PDF PDF 71 Kb) enables:

  • Network Rail and freight customers to enter into a freight customer track access contract that does not contain firm rights;
  • Network Rail and a freight operator (nominated by a freight customer) to enter into a freight customer specific track access contract for freight operators; and
  • a freight operator and Network Rail to make certain changes to the freight operator’s existing track access contract relating to liability.

We have produced a Model Track Access Contract (Freight Services) - Freight Customer Mark Up (PDF PDF 2.48 Mb) which shows the changes that can be made under this general approval.

Last updated: 19 January 2012

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