Railways: Competition

(asked on 11th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) existing and (b) proposed open access rail operations; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait
Chris Heaton-Harris
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
This question was answered on 16th June 2020

The independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is responsible for determining access to the track for open access operators. However. we acknowledge that open access operators can play a contributory role improving rail services for passengers in circumstances where it delivers new and innovative services.

The DfT, as the competent franchising authority, have to balance the benefits of new open access operators with the impact on the value for money of taxpayers’ significant investment in the railway. We are aware that some open access operators have paused operations due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and hope to see them return to the network as soon as possible.

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