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Wednesday 9 Sep 2026

Landmark plans show how Great British Railways will oversee train access to rail network – and help better connect local communities

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National

A consultation has launched into how Great British Railways (GBR) will make decisions on which passenger and freight services can use Britain’s rail network. 

For the first time in three decades, GBR will bring together decisions about passenger and freight access to the railway – bringing greater clarity and consistency about how capacity is best used.  

And in supporting more passenger and freight services, this new approach will not only reduce the burden on taxpayers and attract more investors to the sector, but also link up better with local transport schemes, including at a devolved and mayoral authority level, so that communities are better served by their railways.  

Today, the consultation on GBR’s future Access & Use Policy (AUP) has been launched which sets out how these decisions will be made, in a consistent way, that freight, open access operators, and other industry stakeholders can understand and trust. Safety will remain at the centre of all decision-making. 

Anit Chandarana, Group Director of System Operator at Network Rail, said: "Our aim is simple: to continue to make fair, transparent and consistent decisions about access to the railway, so we make the best possible use of the network for passengers, freight customers and taxpayers. 

"The existing access and charging framework is no longer fit for purpose. It has grown over 30 years through layers of legislation, regulation, contracts and codes, and too often encourages different parts of the railway to take decisions in isolation. 

"Change on this scale needs to be handled carefully and openly. The current draft of the policy has already benefited from positive engagement across the industry, and we are keen to hear further views through this consultation as we continue to shape the way forward."

The consultation builds on an AUP Discussion Document published in December 2025, as well as extensive prior engagement with government, regulators, and a wide range of industry stakeholders, including freight and passenger operators, infrastructure managers, and devolved and regional transport bodies. 

To find out more about the consultation and how to take part visit our website.