§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of track access charges on rail freight operators. [10684]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAll Railtrack track access agreements are subject to the approval of the Rail Regulator. Railtrack is expected to allow onto the network freight flows which can cover at least the marginal costs they impose. For traffic which cannot even meet these costs, track access grant is available in recognition of the environmental and wider social benefits of sending freight by rail rather than by road.