Developing ORR’s process for GBR Appeals
Rail Freight Group was pleased to respond to the ORR’s consultation on developing ORR’s process for GBR Appeals. The changes being progressed through the Railways Bill 2025 will have a significant impact for all parties in UK rail, whether or not they become an integrated part of Great British Railways (GBR). The new body will be a powerful entity controlling the vast majority of the UK rail infrastructure and passenger services, but there will still be significant parts of the rail sector outside GBR including rail freight and some passenger services.
Although the current narrative is positive towards rail freight, there is the potential for an integrated monopoly business to prioritise its own services in future, and so it is essential that the legal and regulatory frameworks act to ensure that non-GBR operators are effectively protected.
To that end we are strongly supportive of the principle of a strong and effective appeals function, particularly in relation to the planned new access framework covering areas such as the allocation of track capacity, charges and performance regimes. It is essential that freight operators can challenge decisions made by GBR where they are believed to be improper or unfair, and that GBR can be made to reconsider and overturn decisions.