Rail Partners responded to ORR's consultation on the summary guidance around rail open access applications, including the introduction of a routine approach to monetising costs and benefits, and removal of the benchmarking stage of the not primarily abstractive test (NPA).
The response highlights the benefits open access delivers for passengers – connecting underserved communities, lowering fares, improving the customer offer, passenger growth, and driving modal shift. It welcomes further clarity around the open access application process from ORR and discusses the benefits of longer access contracts to encourage investment.
Rail Partners broadly supports a routine approach to monetisation and removal of the benchmarking stage of the NPA for larger and more complex open access applications, and advocates for ORR’s independent role in the track access framework to be safeguarded.
Access the response in full here.
