Examination of Witnesses (Questions 21440
- 21449)
21440. Preparing the Access Option is by its
nature a contractual negotiation with Network Rail. It is built
on a great deal of technical detail on operational and other issues.
The work required has been particularly extensive because the
use of Access Options has not been highly developed by the industry
and each one is to a significant extent bespoke.
21441. Sir, you will be pleased to hear that
the legal drafting will be in excess of 100 pages long. Happily,
I can report that the Promoter and Network Rail are currently
dealing with what are a handful of remaining issues and the joint
aim is to formally agree the text within the next month. The Promoter
and Network Rail are currently undertaking pre-application consultations
with the ORR. Once the Access Option is submitted to the ORR,
together with the supporting timetabling modelling, the ORR will
publish it and undertake industry consultation in the usual way.
That process may include the holding of a hearing. The ORR's decision
will then be taken in accordance with its statutory duties under
the Railways Act that apply to all applications.
21442. Assuming that the ORR's process follows
a typical timetable for such applications, the decision would
be in time to inform the Lords' Select Committee and railway Petitioners
before they are heard. Sir, I know that some Petitioners hoped
that a much faster timetable could be achieved but the Promoter
has consistently said that this is not practicable. The Promoter
and Network Rail have worked very hard to reach the current stage
and the aim is to make a formal submission of the Access Option
to the ORR within the next month. Of course, since the Committee
will be sitting again for a final session to deal with the final
AP, the Woolwich AP, assuming that the House gives the appropriate
instruction on the request of the Secretary of State, then there
will be a final opportunity to update you as to where matters
have reached at that stage. Sir, thank you for patience. I hope
that has covered those general issues sufficiently for the Committee's
purposes
21443. Chairman: It is certainly very
comprehensive. That would concludes today's hearing but before
we do, can I remind Mr Elvin, we still have a few notes outstanding
which we have been promised you will send, so if you could get
those to us.
21444. Mr Walters: Sir, I have been here
all day and I have a Petition and have not been heard.
21445. Chairman: It is not appropriate
to deal with that now, you will have to deal with the clerk.
21446. Mr Walters: Why have I not been
heard, I have put a Petition in, number 14?
21447. Chairman: Sir, were you scheduled
to appear here?
21448. Mr Walters: She is saying no,
but I have not come here for nothing, I have been here all day.
21449. Chairman: I am afraid you are
not on the programme but the clerk will talk to you after the
hearing today, but you are certainly not scheduled for today.
It only remains for me to say that concludes today's hearing.
The next time this Committee will meet will be on a day and time
of my choosing.
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