Track access charges workshop: cap on variable usage charge and freight-specific charge

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This page sets out details of the workshop we held on our proposals to establish a cap on variable usage charge and a freight-specific charge, on Thursday 12 July 2012.

As part of the periodic review 2013 (PR13), we consulted on capping certain track access charges in advance of our final determination. The consultation was published on 17 May 2012 and closed on 10 August 2012.

The proposed cap was an upper limit on the average charge -  we may ultimately determine lower charges, taking the form of:

  • an average variable usage charge per vehicle for freight vehicles and separately for passenger vehicles, not distinguishing variation in charge by individual vehicle or commodity; and
  • A freight-specific charge, set to contribute to the fixed costs of rail infrastructure associated with freight traffic.

On 18 May 2012, we held a half-day workshop where we presented and discussed the main elements of our consultation with key stakeholders.

On 5 July 2012, we held a similar event as part of the consultation in order to provide stakeholders with a further opportunity to discuss our proposals, and included more detail on the work being carried out by Network Rail to estimate the freight associated avoidable costs of operating on the network.

Workshop slides

Slides from the 5 July 2012 workshop are available below, including those on the approach taken by Network Rail's consultants LEK to estimate freight avoidable costs of operating on the Network.

Related slides