Railways Act 1993

23 Passenger services to be subject to franchise agreements. E+W+S

(1) It shall be the duty of the [F1 Authority] from time to time to designate [F2 such services for the carriage of passengers by railway (other than services which are, by virtue of section 24 below, exempt from designation under this subsection) as it considers ought to be provided under franchise agreements.].

(2) The [F3 Authority] may perform [F3 its] duty under subsection (1) above by designating particular services or services of a class or description.

[F4 (2A) A designation may be varied or revoked; but a variation or revocation of the designation of particular services, or services of a class or description, shall not affect any franchise agreement previously entered into with respect to those services or services of that class or description.

(2B) The Authority shall publish designations, and any variations or revocations of designations, in such manner as it considers appropriate.]

(3) In this Part—

• “franchise agreement” means an agreement with the [F5 Authority] under which another party undertakes either—

  (a)

  to provide, or

  (b)

  to secure that a wholly owned subsidiary of his provides,

  throughout the franchise term those services for the carriage of passengers by railway to which the agreement relates;

• “franchise operator”, in relation to any franchise agreement, means the person (whether the franchisee or, as the case may be, the wholly owned subsidiary of the franchisee) who is to provide the franchised services;

• “franchise period”, in relation to any franchise agreement, means the franchise term, except where the franchise agreement is terminated before the end of that term, in which case it means so much of that term as ends with that termination;

• “franchise term”, in relation to any franchise agreement, means the period specified in the franchise agreement as the period throughout which the franchisee is to provide, or secure that a wholly owned subsidiary of his provides, the franchised services, and includes any such extension of that period as is mentioned in section 29(3) below;

• “franchised services”, in relation to any franchise agreement, means the services for the carriage of passengers by railway which are to be provided under that franchise agreement;

• “franchisee” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a franchise agreement under which a party undertakes to secure that a wholly owned subsidiary of his provides the franchised services, the party so undertaking; or

  (b)

  in relation to any other franchise agreement, the person who is to provide the franchised services.

(4) Any reference in this Part to the provision of services under a franchise agreement is a reference to the provision of those services by the franchise operator; and where the franchise operator is, or is to be, a wholly owned subsidiary of the franchisee, any reference to the provision of services by the franchisee under a franchise agreement shall accordingly be construed as a reference to his securing their provision by the franchise operator.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 23(1) substituted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 215, Sch. 16 para. 14(2); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)(which S.I. was amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(2))

F2 Words in s. 23(1) substituted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 212(1) (with Sch. 28 para. 3); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F3 Words in s. 23(2) substituted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 215, Sch. 16 para. 14(3); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)(which S.I. was amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(2))

F4 S. 23(2A)(2B) inserted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 212(2) (with Sch. 28 para. 3); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F5 S. 23(3): words in definition of

“franchise agreement”

substituted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 215, Sch. 16 para. 14(4); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)(which S.I. was amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 23(1) excluded (1.4.1994) by S.I. 1994/606, art. 6

S. 23(1) excluded (13.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3112, art. 3

Commencement Information

I1 S. 23 wholly in force at 1.4.1994; s. 23 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 154(2); s. 23(3)(4) in force at 6.1.1994 by S.I. 1993/3237, art. 2(2); s. 23 in force at 1.4.1994 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1994/571, art. 5