Unused Rail Capacity 2024-02-08
2024-02-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question concerns the identification of unused rail network capacity to support open-access services.
Whether the Office of Rail Regulation has identified unused rail network capacity for open-access services.
The Office of Rail and Road has been working with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to identify unused access rights. That work will support the release of under-used capacity on the rail network, which may then be used by potential operators in the development of open-access proposals.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific timelines or details about progress and plans for releasing unused capacity.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned that the progress of identifying unused rail network capacity has been slow and wants to see faster action.
It is great to hear that there is work under way, but I notice that my hon. Friend did not say how far it had got. I know that he understands that this is a huge opportunity to improve our over-subsidised, post-pandemic railways, so that passengers can get a better deal, but if we do not move faster it will slip through our fingers.
Since we met in November with the team, which included my hon. Friend, to see what further we could do, we have written to operators to clarify that unused access rights should be released. With regard to Department for Transport operators, we have hundreds of unused access rights that we have identified for release. We also talked about speeding up the entire decision-making process, and the ORR and Network Rail now have a draft service level agreement to do that.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy