Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 260025, what assessment he has made of the viability of proposals in the High Speed One five-year asset management statement to increase track access charges for rail freight by 74 per cent.

The Government expects the independent Regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to provide robust and rigorous challenge to HS1’s proposals as part of the Periodic Review process. This should include giving detailed consideration to affordability for operators and freight users.