Access to rail freight sites - market study

We have carried out a market study into access to rail freight sites in Great Britain.

Rail freight sites are key to the movement of goods by rail. Their uses include the loading or unloading of rail freight, the transhipment of freight between rail and other modes, storage, marshalling, and stabling.

A public study was conducted between September 2010 and February 2011 following concerns voiced by a number of stakeholders that current arrangements acted against the growth of a competitive rail freight industry. Its terms of reference are available below. It involved interviews with and contributions from key stakeholders, including the main rail freight operators, some rail freight customers and Network Rail.

We concluded that overall this market should not be given a clean bill of health but that a referral to the Competition Commission, at this stage, would not be a proportionate response to what we found. However, we have not ruled out such a possibility should further evidence come to light or should the measures taken to resolve the issues identified not have the desired effect.

We consulted on our findings from the public study between May and July 2011, seeking stakeholder views on next steps. We received 16 responses which were summarised in a letter to stakeholders ( PDF PDF 88 Kb) on 30 September 2011.

We are now seeking views on the industry’s action plan of measures to improve the functioning of this market, with a deadline of 17 February 2012.

As part of the industry’s action plan, a sub-group was set up to consider issues around the definition of ‘Nominated Location’ in the track access contract and the lease. A note of the sub-group’s meeting ( PDF PDF 202 Kb) on 12 December is available.

Last updated: 23 December 2011