Lord Carrington of Fulham

The design, build and construction of the scheme will be funded by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. There are proposals for a new lift and making improvements to the gateline at Liverpool Street Station, however this essential work is being undertaken now ahead of the redevelopment plans and does not form part of the wider scheme.

The proposed office building as part of the redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station will be owned and managed by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. The remainder of the station will continue to be owned and managed by Network Rail, including the retail area.

Accessibility and public safety are central to all investment projects at termini stations. The Department for Transport sees accessibility improvements across the network as a priority and is continuing to invest significant sums to ensure accessibility to the network is improved for all users. The DfT supported Access for All programme, launched in 2006, has provided step free, accessible routes at over 200 stations and smaller scale access improvements at 1500 more. We are currently assessing over 300 stations nominated for the next tranche of Access for All projects. The Department expects the industry to comply with all relevant accessibility and safety standards whenever work is carried out.

There is no such policy. Network Rail is a publicly funded body, subject to Managing Public Money guidance on public spending and private finance and is held to account by The Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR determines how much money Network Rail needs to run the business efficiently and to deliver the infrastructure for the UK and Scottish Governments. Business plans across the regions and its estate focus on delivering a better experience for passengers and customers. Where projects with a strong commercial case can attract private investment to deliver a better railway, this allows public funding to be invested in other areas of the network. Network Rail follows all guidance and regulations to ensure such partnerships are fully compliant with rules governing public bodies, as set out in its Framework Agreement with the Department for Transport.

Any money that Network Rail makes from its property estate is reinvested into the overall running costs of the network and isn't ring fenced. Network Rail’s funding settlement targets them with generating improved returns from the estate which means they need less funding from Government to run the railway. As well as the commercial return the development proposals also focus on supporting a better experience for passengers and customers and are designed for each individual location and its specific needs.