§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what responsibilities(a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) the Office of the Rail Regulator have in levying fines on train operating companies. [37233]
§ Mr. SpellarSection 55 of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended by section 225 of the Transport Act 2000) established an enforcement regime in the hands of the appropriate authority which permits it to impose a monetary penalty for contraventions of (a) licence conditions, franchise agreements and certain obligations concerning closures of railway facilities and (b) enforcement orders made to secure compliance with any such obligation. The Rail Regulator is the appropriate authority for licences. The SRA is the appropriate authority for franchises and closure obligations.