Track access guidance

This guidance sets out our approach to regulating track access.

The information on these pages, and within the ORR documents we refer to, is being reviewed and will be updated as necessary to reflect the fact that the EU exit transition period has ended. If you have any questions regarding rail transport legislation from 1 January 2021 please refer to the GOV.UK website.

We make sure that passenger and freight train operating companies have fair access to the rail network – and that best use is made of capacity.

If a train operator wants to access the national railway network, it will need a track access contract with Network Rail. This page sets out what you need to know. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Guidance documents

Introduction, updated July 2021

Charging and performance

Charging, April 2019
Performance, April 2019
Possessions, April 2019
Liability framework, April 2019

Other networks

ORR's Code of Practice for the application of Sections 16A to I of the Railways Act 1993, November 2006
Connection contracts, November 2021
Facility access agreements (non-Network Rail networks) May 2019
High Speed 1 – see 'access to HS1'

Appeals

Network Code appeals, updated July 2021
The Railways (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2016, updated July 2021

ORR's Enforcement powers under The Railways (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2016

ORR's economic enforcement policy and penalties statement

ORR current work and policy documents

West Coast Main Line (WCML) and East Coast Main Line (ECML) major timetable recasts in 2022/23
- DfT WCML/ECML response dated 29 April
- Network Rail WCML/ECML response dated 28 April
- ORR letter to Network Rail and DfT dated 5 April 2022 and press release
ORR statement on timetabling and Network Code change requirements
Published 22 February 2022
ORR statement on future service levels and unused access rights
Published 1 November 2021
Competing applications for access to the West Coast Main Line
Published 21 October 2020
Access to the West Coast Main Line update letter
Published 22 November 2019
Access to the West Coast Main Line
Published 11 October 2019
Problems with sale of access rights process - Letter to the railway industry
Published 5 June 2019
Current applications
West Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
HS2
Network Rail loading licences

ORR decisions

This section contains links to recent track access and connection contract decisions. This includes new contracts and amendments to current contracts. See track access decisions.

For previous policy decisions and workstreams related to the criteria and procedures, please see the policy and document archive on the National Archives website.