This page contains all Core Valley Lines (CVL) track access application consultations, decisions, consolidated agreements, and the CVL charging framework. It also contains information on the CVL Network Code, including details of any approved modifications to the Code, and our consultations on a network licence for the operator of the network.
Current track access applications
This section contains all application forms, documents and responses we make public, relating
to CVL track access applications we are currently considering. This includes:
- new track access contracts; and
- amendments to track access contracts.
There are no current track access applications.
Decisions on track access applications
This section contains all decisions we have made in relation to CVL track access applications.
This includes:
- new track access contracts; and
- amendments to track access contracts.
2019 to 2023
The table below presents decisions made from 2019 to 2023:
| Date | TOC/FOC | Number | Links to documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 March 2023 | Seilwaith Amey Cymru / Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited Vintage Trains Limited intage Trains Limited |
- | Directions Contract Decision Letter Directions Notice |
| 15 December 2022 | Seilwaith Amey Cymru/Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited and Transport for Wales Rail Limited |
5th SA | Supplemental agreement Decision letter |
| 17 August 2022 |
Seilwaith Amey Cymru / Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited and Rail Express Systems Limited |
4th SA | Supplemental agreement Approval notice Decision letter |
| 1 February 2022 | Seilwaith Amey Cymru / Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited and Rail Express Systems Limited | - | |
| 4 August 2021 | Seilwaith Amey Cymru/Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited and Transport for Wales Rail Limited | - | Decision letter Directions notice Rhymney Station Sidings Connection Agreement |
| 1 February 2021 | Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited | 3rd SA | |
| 1 February 2021 | Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited | 2nd SA | |
| 16 July 2020 | Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited | 1st SA | Approval Notice Decision Letter |
| 25 March 2020 | Amey Keolis Infrastructure and Merthyr Ltd Connection Contract | - | Direction Notice Decision Letter Cwmbargoed Sidings Connection Agreement |
| 29 November 2019 | Amey Keolis Infrastructure/Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, Freightliner Heavy Haul, and DB Cargo (4 separate directions) freight services track access contracts |
- | Decision letter GBRf directions Freightliner directions Freightliner HH directions DB Cargo directions |
Consolidated agreements
A consolidated agreement is a document incorporating all approved amendments to the existing approved agreement.
They are provided by CVL for reference purposes only.
Certain information may be excluded from these consolidated versions. This is because we may withhold from publication information which relates to the affairs of a private individual or a corporate or unincorporated body if we are satisfied that publication would or might seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that person or body.
The table below presents CVL consolidated agreements:
| TOC/FOC | Consolidated agreement |
|---|---|
| GB Railfreight Ltd (Charter Passenger Services) | GBRf Charter dated 20 March 2023 |
| Transport for Wales Rail Limited |
TfWRL dated 8 January 2023 |
| GB Railfreight Ltd | GBRF dated 29 January 2021 |
| Freightliner Ltd | FL dated 29 January 2021 |
| Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd | FHH dated 11 August 2022 |
| DB Cargo (UK) Ltd | DBC dated 12 December 2022 |
The CVL Network Code
The CVL Network Code is a common set of rules and industry procedures that apply to all parties who have a contractual right of access to the CVL infrastructure owned and operated by the CVL infrastructure manager.
The CVL infrastructure manager manages and maintains the CVL Network Code, and all related documentation. The full CVL Network Code can be found on the CVL Infrastructure Manager website.
Our responsibility is to ensure that the CVL Network Code provides appropriate contractual certainty for all affected parties and does not benefit one contractual party to a greater extent than another.
Description of the CVL Network Code
The CVL Network Code sets out the industry procedures governing:
- the way in which service performance is monitored and measured (Part B);
- modifications to the CVL Network Code (Part C);
- the translation of access rights into the construction of the timetable (Part D);
- environmental protection issues (Part E);
- the contractual arrangements governing changes to the trains used on the CVL network and to the CVL network itself (Parts F and G respectively);
- the CVL Railway Operational Code (Part H);
- changes to access rights (Part J); and
- appeals to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) (Part M).
The CVL Access Dispute Resolution Rules (ADRR), setting out how disputes under access contracts are resolved, can also be found on the CVL Infrastructure Manager website.
Safety responsibilities, for example through safety certificates and safety authorisations, and Railway Group Standards, take priority over the CVL Network Code obligations.
Approved amendments to the CVL Network Code
Part C of the CVL Network Code provides processes by which the Code can be modified.
- Condition C1 provides a democratic industry process whereby the CVL infrastructure manager and each Access Beneficiary can propose changes to the CVL Network Code; and
- Condition C3 provides the ORR with a right to make changes.
Recent modifications are listed below.
Modifications to the CVL Network Code
The table below presents documents related to CVL Network Code modifications:
| Proposal Approval notice Covering Letter Proposals for amendment |
Date approved | Links to documents |
|---|---|---|
| Approval of changes to Part B of the CVL Network Code and a consequential change to the Access Dispute Resolution Rules annexed to the CVL Network Code to reflect changes to Network Rail Network Code through Network Rail PfC 119 | 6 April 2023 | Cover Letter Approval Notice Appendix A – Marked-up extracts from the CVL Network Code |
| Approval of changes to CVL Network Code (Access Dispute Resolution Rules) to reflect changes to Network Rail Network Code through Network Rail PfC 114-116 | 6 October 2022 | Cover Letter Approval Notice Appendix A – Marked-up version of CVL ADRR |
| Approval of Proposal for Change 21/02a – changes to Part A of the CVL Network Code and the CVL Access Dispute Resolution Rules | 22 September 2021 |
Approval Notice |
| Approval of Proposal for Change 21/03 – changes to Part D of the CVL Network Code | 24 August 2021 | Approval Notice and approved changes Cover letter |
|
Approval of changes to the CVL Network Change Standard Forms A to X |
15 July 2021 | |
| Approval of Proposal for Change 21/01 – changes to Part D of the CVL Network Code | 12 March 2021 | |
| Approval of Proposal for Change 20/01 – changes to Part D of the CVL Network Code |
8 September 2020 | Approval Notice and approved changes Cover letter |
| Approval of the CVL Network Change Standard Forms A to X | 21 July 2020 | Approval Notice and approved changes Cover letter |
Model contracts
There are no current model contracts.
Charging framework
Core Valley Lines charging framework
Network licence
This section gives information on our consideration of a network licence for the operator of the CVL network, including our consultation documents, stakeholder responses and conclusions.
The table below provides documents related to the CVL network licence:
| Date | Publications | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 22 November 2021 | Licence modification confirmation notice: To make changes to the Core Valley Lines network licence relating to referencing the Infrastructure Agreement |
Network licence modification notice for Amey Infrastructure Wales |
| 31 August 2021 | Statutory consultation: on Modification to the Core Valley Lines network licence |
Amey Infrastructure Wales - Statutory notice for Network Licence modification |
| 13 December 2019 | Statutory consultation: network licence for the Core Valley Lines Infrastructure Operator of last resort | Wales Infrastructure Manager of Last Resort Limited |
| 26 November 2019 | Conclusion: Network licence for Amey Keolis Infrastructure / Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited | |
| 25 July 2019 | Statutory consultation: Network licence for Amey Keolis Infrastructure / Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited | Statutory consultation on network licence for Amey Keolis Infrastructure Ltd |
| 7 June 2019 | Initial consultation on a network licence for the operator of the Core Valley Lines |
Amey Keolis Infrastructure |