Depot access

The railway network has a large number of privately owned facilities that are accessible by rail. We regulate access to around 100 light maintenance depots in Great Britain which provide services to passenger and other trains.

We regulate access to light maintenance depots by approving depot access agreements in accordance with the terms of the Railways Act 1993.

When the parties agree on the terms of a new depot access agreement they submit is to us for approval under section 18 of the Act. We approve agreed amendments to access agreements under section 22 of the Act.

When the 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.

A number of amendments to depot access agreements are covered by a General Approval.
More information is available in the pages that follow. 

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