During PR23, Rail Partners issued a response to ORR’s further consultation as part of its review of the access charges paid by train operators to Network Rail.
The response supported only incremental changes to the charging framework, recognising that there was still a high level of uncertainty regarding the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on passenger demand, and noting the compressed timescales that this periodic review was taking place under due to the pandemic.
On Infrastructure Cost Charges, Rail Partners supported the existing market segmentation for passenger open access services. Regarding freight, the response highlighted the impact of imposing ICCs on future modal shift necessary to deliver freight growth.
On variable usage charges, Rail Partners reasoned that while new evidence relating track damage to costs was welcome, there would be insufficient time for this evidence to be scrutinised sufficiently ahead of CP7.
