§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the present regulatory arrangements provide a mechanism for Railtrack to be rewarded for improvements to railway infrastructure through the price review mechanism rather than having to recover all the costs from a train operating company during its franchise period. [7063]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe costs of enhancement investment do not have to be recovered from a train operating company over one franchise period. The treatment of access charges in respect of network enhancements at future periodic reviews should generally take account of any agreement between the funding body or bodies and Railtrack on the future basis of charging, while having regard to specific public interest concerns.