Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Clause 71 of the Railways Bill on private investment in the rail network, in particular from Open Access operators.

The Government does not anticipate that Clause 71 will have an adverse impact on private investment in the railways, including by open access operators. The power is not intended to negatively affect third-party operators or investors; rather, its purpose is to ensure that existing railway access contracts can continue to operate effectively following the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR). To provide reassurance to affected parties, the Government has consistently reinforced its commitment to preserving both the duration and the substantive Schedule 5 access rights contained in existing contracts, together with the charging determinations made by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the remainder of the current control period.