§ 27. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of public subsidy to Railtrack and other train operators in the period since rail privatisation. [81349]
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total level of public subsidy to rail services in the UK in the last financial year. [81346]
§ Mr. JamiesonFor five years after its privatisation in 1996, Railtrack received no public subsidy direct from the Government. However, the company's profitability was contingent on subsidy, because some 85 per cent. of its income came in access charges paid to it by train operating companies (TOCS), most of which did receive subsidy. Since 1 October 2001, Railtrack has received network grant direct from the Government to help fund its maintenance and renewals investment.
Details of annual levels of public subsidy to the rail industry in Great Britain are set out in Table 5.1 of "National Rail Trends", copies of which are in the Library. In 2001–02, total subsidy amounted to £1,826 million. The main elements of that were £731 million paid to TOCs, £306 million paid to passenger transport executives, £499 million paid to Railtrack and £185 million paid to London & Continental Railways.