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Train Operating Companies: Contracts

Asked by Mr Richard HoldenConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 18 November 2025UIN 88877

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of track access charges by operators within Great British Railways on the (a) pricing, (b) access and (c) general operations of (i) non-nationalised passenger and (ii) freight operators.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

The Government is fundamentally reforming the track access charging framework to remove complexities and the complicated ‘money go round’ that would have required GBR to charge itself for using its own infrastructure.

To ensure transparency GBR will need to carry out cost apportionment process which will account for the cost of providing rail infrastructure and the costs of its own passenger services using GBR managed infrastructure had they been subject to charges.

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