How to apply for Station Access: Guidance

General guidance

Applications for our approval must be made under section 18 of the Railways Act 1993 (new agreed contracts) or section 22 (agreed amendments to contracts). Depending on their nature, some amendments are automatically approved by one of our general approvals. Documentation must still be sent to us promptly.

In addition to the guidance notes listed below, see standard template contracts and conditions for the variety of documents relevant to station access contracts.

Please ensure that you submit your applications under sections 18 and 22 as soon as they are agreed.  This is to allow us to consider them in a fair manner, having regard to our section 4 duties under the Railways Act 1993.

When parties cannot agree the terms of a new contract, or amendments to an existing one, the party seeking access can ask us to direct an agreement under sections 17 or 22A respectively. The procedure is laid out in section 17 and 22A of the Railways Act 1993. Schedule 4 to the Act sets out the minimum timescales for applications. Please contact a member of the stations team if you wish to discuss this

The following documents outline how to apply for stations access.

You should also refer to the related document below (letter to industry contacts regarding general approvals) which explains more about how we regulate stations access.

Guidance Notes

• Guidance note no.1: Amendments to station access contracts: An overview
• Guidance note no.2: Station access contractual change procedures: An overview
• Guidance note no.3: Amendments to station access agreements: Statutory and regulatory requirements
• Guidance note no.4: Amendments to station access agreements: Procedures for obtaining specific approval from the Regulator
• Guidance note no.5: Amendments to station access agreements: Procedures for submitting generally approved amendments to the Regulator
• Pro-forma amending agreement (multilateral), Pro-forma amending agreement (bilateral) and pro-forma amending document - prepared to assist station facility owners in documenting any changes to relevant station access agreements
• Policy and criteria on exclusions of commercially sensitive material in station and depot access agreements from the public register

The ORR has also published guidance on station charges - A fair deal - which includes guidance on changes to charges resulting from investment in station enhancements. This document is available as a related link.

Page last updated: 27 October 2009

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