Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to preserve the duration and substantive operating rights of existing open-access agreements during the transition to Great British Railways; and in what circumstances they envisage departing from that approach.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government intends to preserve both the duration and the substantive Schedule 5 access rights contained in existing contracts through the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). The power at Clause 71 is not intended to revisit, reduce or extinguish those rights; rather, it is intended to ensure they continue to have practical effect within the new regime. That commitment was introduced in the Government's consultation on the Railways Bill, confirmed in the formal response, and reiterated throughout passage in both Houses. We do not envisage departing from that approach, recognising its importance for operators and for maintaining investor confidence in rolling stock and wider rail supply chains. Accordingly, no adverse impact on rolling stock investment or wider investor confidence is anticipated.
Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of uncertainty over future track access rights on rolling stock investment by open-access operators, including orders supporting employment at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe manufacturing facility and its supply chain.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government intends to preserve both the duration and the substantive Schedule 5 access rights contained in existing contracts through the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). The power at Clause 71 is not intended to revisit, reduce or extinguish those rights; rather, it is intended to ensure they continue to have practical effect within the new regime. That commitment was introduced in the Government's consultation on the Railways Bill, confirmed in the formal response, and reiterated throughout passage in both Houses. We do not envisage departing from that approach, recognising its importance for operators and for maintaining investor confidence in rolling stock and wider rail supply chains. Accordingly, no adverse impact on rolling stock investment or wider investor confidence is anticipated.
Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for investor confidence in the United Kingdom of the powers under clause 71 of the Railways Bill to amend or terminate existing access agreements.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government intends to preserve both the duration and the substantive Schedule 5 access rights contained in existing contracts through the transition to Great British Railways (GBR). The power at Clause 71 is not intended to revisit, reduce or extinguish those rights; rather, it is intended to ensure they continue to have practical effect within the new regime. That commitment was introduced in the Government's consultation on the Railways Bill, confirmed in the formal response, and reiterated throughout passage in both Houses. We do not envisage departing from that approach, recognising its importance for operators and for maintaining investor confidence in rolling stock and wider rail supply chains. Accordingly, no adverse impact on rolling stock investment or wider investor confidence is anticipated.
Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assurances they intend to provide to open-access operators that existing access rights will remain sufficiently secure to support long-term investment in the purchase or leasing of trains.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We understand how important it is for Open Access operators to have the certainty to enable longer-term investment in rolling stock and their wider businesses. That is why Government has already committed, both in Parliament and in public consultation, to honouring all Schedule 5 access rights as set out in existing access contracts. We remain committed to this and continue to see an important role for Open Access in the future of the railway.
Asked by: Lord Houchen of High Leven (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) desks, and (2) civil servants, are assigned to the Department for Transport office at 33 Horseferry Road.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As of 30th June 2026, there are: 1) 1,261 desks; and, 2) 2,180 civil servants assigned to the Department for Transport office at 33 Horseferry Road.