Transport Act 2000

Chapter IU.K. The Strategic Rail Authority

The AuthorityU.K.

201 The Authority.E+W+S

[F1(1)There shall be a body corporate known as the Strategic Rail Authority (but in this Part referred to as “the Authority”).

(2)The Authority shall not be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown; and its property shall not be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.]

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 201-211 repealed (26.6.2005 for the repeal of s. 206, 1.12.2006 for the repeal of ss. 201-205, 207-211) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 13 Pt. 1 (with s. 14(4)(5), Sch. 11 para. 11(2)); S.I. 2005/1444, art. 2(2), Sch. 2; S.I. 2006/2911, Sch.

202 Membership and chairing.E+W+S

[F1(1)The Authority shall consist of—

(a)a member who is to chair it, and

(b)not fewer than seven, nor more than fourteen, other members.

(2)But the Secretary of State may by order alter either or both of the numbers for the time being specified in subsection (1); and an order under this subsection shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3)Both the member who is to chair the Authority and the other members shall be appointed by the Secretary of State; but the other members shall include—

(a)one person appointed by him after consultation with the Scottish Ministers, and

(b)one person appointed by him after consultation with the National Assembly for Wales.

(4)In making any appointment to membership of the Authority the Secretary of State shall have regard to the desirability of appointing a person who has experience of, and has shown capacity in, some matter relevant to the functions of the Authority.

(5)In making an appointment to membership after consultation with the Scottish Ministers or the National Assembly for Wales the Secretary of State shall also have regard to the desirability of appointing a person who is familiar with the special requirements and circumstances of Scotland, or of Wales.

(6)The Secretary of State shall consult the member appointed to chair the Authority before appointing any other person to membership of the Authority.]

Textual Amendments

203 Other senior appointments.E+W+S

[F1(1)The Secretary of State may, after consulting the member appointed to chair the Authority, appoint another of its members to act as deputy to that member.

(2)The Authority shall, with the approval of the Secretary of State, appoint a chief executive of the Authority.

(3)A person appointed as chief executive of the Authority shall (if not already a member of the Authority) be appointed as a member.]

Textual Amendments

204 Further provisions.U.K.

[F1Schedule 14 contains further provisions about the Authority.]

Textual Amendments

Purposes, strategies and exercise of functionsE+W+S

205 Purposes.E+W+S

[F1The purposes of the Authority are—

(a)to promote the use of the railway network for the carriage of passengers and goods,

(b)to secure the development of the railway network, and

(c)to contribute to the development of an integrated system of transport of passengers and goods.]

Textual Amendments

F1206 Strategies.E+W+S

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Textual Amendments

207 Manner of exercise of functions.E+W+S

[F1(1)The Authority shall exercise its functions with a view to furthering its purposes and shall do so in accordance with any such strategies as it has formulated with respect to them (except when exercising the function of reviewing those strategies).

(2)In exercising its functions in accordance with subsection (1) the Authority shall act in the way best calculated—

(a)to protect the interests of users of railway services,

(b)to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development,

(c)to promote efficiency and economy on the part of persons providing railway services,

(d)to promote measures designed to facilitate the making by passengers of journeys which involve the use of the services of more than one passenger service operator (including, in particular, arrangements for the issue and use of through tickets),

(e)to impose on the operators of railway services the minimum restrictions which are consistent with the performance of the Authority’s functions, and

(f)to enable persons providing railway services to plan the future of their businesses with a reasonable degree of assurance.

(3)In exercising its functions in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) the Authority shall have regard to—

(a)the need to protect all persons from dangers arising from the operation of railways (including, in particular, by taking into account any advice given by the Health and Safety Executive),

(b)the interests of persons who are disabled, and

(c)the effect on the environment of activities connected with the provision of railway services.

(4)The Authority shall secure that any grants or other payments or loans made by it, any guarantees given by it and any investment in bodies corporate by it are such as it reasonably considers will further its purposes (in accordance with any strategies which it has formulated) efficiently and economically.

(5)Subject to subsection (4), the Secretary of State may give the Authority—

(a)directions and guidance as to the manner in which it is to exercise any of its functions in order to comply with subsections (1) to (3), and

(b)directions not to exercise any of its functions in a particular manner (or not to do so without consulting, or obtaining the consent of, the Secretary of State).]

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 207 excluded (1.2.2001) by 1996 c. 61, s. 42A (as inserted by 2000 c. 38, s. 252, Sch. 27 para. 55; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to trransitional provision in Sch. 2 Pt. II))

208 Directions, guidance and advice by Scottish Ministers.E+W+S

[F1(1)The Scottish Ministers may give the Authority—

(a)directions and guidance in relation to services for the carriage of passengers by rail which start and end in Scotland and are provided under a franchise agreement,

(b)directions and guidance in relation to services for the carriage of passengers by rail which either start or end in Scotland, include sleeping facilities and are provided under a franchise agreement by a person who also provides services within paragraph (a), and

(c)advice in relation to services for the carriage of passengers by rail which either start or end in Scotland and are provided under a franchise agreement (other than services within paragraph (b)).

(2)The Authority shall not comply with any direction or have regard to any guidance given under subsection (1) to the extent that to do so would be inconsistent with any direction or guidance given under section 206(3) or 207(5) or with the Authority’s financial framework.

(3)The Authority need not comply with any direction or have regard to any guidance given under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) to the extent that to do so—

(a)would require the expenditure by the Authority of any money not provided to it out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund, or

(b)would adversely affect any railway services other than those mentioned in that subsection.]

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 208 excluded (1.2.2001) by 1996 c. 61, s. 42A (as inserted by 2000 c. 38, s. 252, Sch. 27 para. 55; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provision in Sch. 2 Pt. II))

209 Directions, guidance and advice: supplementary.E+W+S

[F1(1)Any direction or guidance to the Authority under this Act, or any advice given under section 208(1)(c), shall be published by the person by whom it is given in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(2)The Authority shall comply with any direction given to it under this Act (but subject to section 208(2) and (3)).

(3)In exercising its functions the Authority shall have regard to any guidance given to it under this Act (but subject to section 208(2) and (3)).

(4)The Authority—

(a)shall take note of any advice given under section 208(1)(c), and

(b)in exercising its functions, may have regard to that advice (but subject to subsections (2) and (3)).

(5)Any power to give a direction or guidance to the Authority under this Act includes power to vary or revoke the direction or guidance.]

Textual Amendments

210 Validity of transactions.E+W+S

[F1(1)A transaction entered into by the Authority is not invalidated merely by reason of a contravention by the Authority of a requirement imposed by section 207(1), (2), (3) or (4) or 209(2), (3) or (4)(a).

(2)Subsection (1) applies whether or not any person who entered into the transaction with the Authority enquired whether the Authority was acting in contravention of such a requirement.]

Textual Amendments

Securing provision of railway services and assets etc.E+W+S

211 Financial assistance etc.E+W+S

[F1(1)The Authority may enter into agreements or other arrangements—

(a)for the purpose of securing the provision, improvement or development by others of any railway services or railway assets, or

(b)for any other purpose relating to any railway or railway services.

(2)Agreements or other arrangements entered into under this section may provide for the Authority—

(a)to make grants or other payments or loans,

(b)to give guarantees, or

(c)to invest in bodies corporate,

on such terms and subject to any such conditions as the Authority considers appropriate.

(3)The Authority shall not enter into agreements or other arrangements under this section with—

(a)the franchise operator,

(b)the franchisee, or

(c)any servant, agent or independent contractor of the franchise operator or franchisee,

in respect of any services provided under a franchise agreement otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the franchise agreement.

(4)The Authority shall not enter into agreements or other arrangements under this section for the purpose of securing the provision, improvement or development in Scotland of—

(a)services for the carriage of goods by railway, or

(b)facilities for or in connection with the carriage of goods by railway or the loading or unloading of goods carried or intended to be carried by railway,

if the Scottish Ministers have power to do so under section 249.

(5)Schedule 15 contains provision for the transfer to the Authority of certain property, rights and liabilities of the Secretary of State in consequence of sections 137 and 139 of the M1Railways Act 1993 being superseded by this section.

(6)In this section—

“facilities” includes track, rolling stock, depots, access roads and equipment for use in connection with the carriage, loading or unloading of goods, and
“railway” has its wider meaning.]

Textual Amendments

Marginal Citations

M11993 c. 43.

212 Securing of services by franchising.E+W+S

(1)In section 23 of the M2Railways Act 1993, in subsection (1) (duty of Authority to designate passenger services as eligible for provision under franchise agreements), for the words after “designate” substitute “ 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)In that section, after subsection (2) insert—

“(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 section 26 of that Act (invitations to tender for franchise), after subsection (3) insert—

“(4)The directions which may be given under subsection (1) above (at any time when the Secretary of State considers it inappropriate that the person who is to be the franchisee under a franchise agreement should be selected after an invitation to tender) include—

(a)a direction that that person is to be the person specified in the direction, and

(b)a direction requiring the Authority to select that person in such manner as is so specified,

(as well as a direction authorising the Authority to select that person in such other manner as it may consider appropriate).

(5)The Secretary of State shall prepare and publish a statement of policy with respect to directions under subsection (1) above.

(6)The statement shall (in particular) contain the Secretary of State’s policy about—

(a)when he will consider giving a direction (including, in particular, when he will consider doing so in relation to a franchise agreement which is to replace an earlier franchise agreement before the end of its franchise term); and

(b)the sorts of direction which he will consider giving in particular circumstances.

(7)In deciding whether to give a direction, and (if so) what direction to give, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the statement of policy.

(8)The Secretary of State—

(a)may at any time alter or replace a statement of policy; and

(b)shall publish the altered or replacement statement.

(9)The Secretary of State shall undertake appropriate consultation when preparing, altering or replacing a statement of policy.

(10)When a statement of policy is prepared, altered or replaced, a copy of the statement shall be laid before each House of Parliament.”

F2(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)For section 30 of that Act substitute—

“30 Duty of Authority in absence of franchise.

(1)The Authority shall provide, or secure the provision of, services for the carriage of passengers by railway where—

(a)a direction not to seek to secure the provision of the services under a franchise agreement has been given to the Authority under section 26A or 26B above (and not revoked); or

(b)a franchise agreement in respect of the services is terminated or otherwise comes to an end but no further franchise agreement has been entered into in respect of the services (otherwise than because of such a direction).

(2)The duty in subsection (1) above in relation to any services ceases if the services begin (or again begin) to be provided under a franchise agreement.

(3)Subsection (1) above does not—

(a)require the Authority to provide or secure the provision of services if and to the extent that, in its opinion, adequate alternative railway passenger services are available;

(b)preclude it from giving notice under subsection (5) of section 38 below in relation to any of the services, in which case its duty under this section to secure the provision of the services to which the notice relates will (subject to subsections (5) and (6) of that section) terminate on the day specified in the notice in pursuance of paragraph (b) of that subsection; or

(c)preclude it from ceasing to provide or secure the provision of any of the services in any case falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2) of that section.”

(6)In section 18 of that Act (access agreements: contracts requiring approval of Regulator), after subsection (6) insert—

“(6A)The grounds on which the Regulator may reject, or approve subject to modifications, a proposed access contract submitted to him pursuant to subsection (5) above include that he considers that the use of the facility for which it provides might impede the provision of services—

(a)under a franchise agreement; or

(b)under an agreement entered into by the Authority pursuant to its duty under section 30 below.”

Textual Amendments

F2S. 212(4) repealed (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 13 Pt. 1 (with s. 14(4)(5), Sch. 11 para. 11(2)); S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.

Commencement Information

I1S. 212 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

Marginal Citations

M21993 c. 43.

F3213 Limited additional powers to provide railway services.E+W+S

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Textual Amendments

F3S. 213 repealed (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(a), Sch. 13 Pt. 1 (with s. 14(4)(5), Sch. 11 para. 11(2)); S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.

214 Securing provision of substitute bus and taxi services.E+W+S

(1)The Authority may secure the provision by other persons of services for the carriage of passengers by road, by means of public service vehicles or licensed taxis or private hire vehicles, where railway services have been temporarily interrupted or discontinued.

(2)Where it is not practicable for a service by road to correspond precisely to the railway service which has been interrupted or discontinued, it may deviate from the route of that railway service.

(3)Even where it is practicable for it to do so, the route and stopping places of a service by road provided where a railway service has been discontinued need not correspond precisely with the discontinued service so long as it broadly corresponds with the discontinued service in terms of the localities it serves.

(4)Before entering into any agreement with any person in pursuance of this section for the provision of a service by road in a case where a railway service has been discontinued, the Authority shall invite other persons to submit tenders to provide the service by road service for such period, and on such basis, as may be specified in the invitation to tender.

(5)Subsection (4)—

(a)does not apply in relation to an agreement for the provision of a service in a case where such a service provided under an agreement entered into by the Authority in pursuance of this section has been temporarily interrupted, and

(b)does not require the Authority to accept any tender submitted in response to an invitation to tender.

(6)In this section “licensed taxis or private hire vehicles” means—

(a)in England and Wales, vehicles licensed under section 37 of the M3Town Police Clauses Act 1847, section 6 of the M4Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, section 48 of the M5Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 or section 7 of the M6Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 or under any similar enactment, and

(b)in Scotland, taxis or private hire cars licensed under section 10 of the M7Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

(7)In this section—

“public service vehicles” has the meaning given by section 1 of the M8Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, and
“stopping places”, in relation to a service, means points at which passengers are taken up or set down in the course of the service.

Commencement Information

I2S. 214 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

Marginal Citations

Functions of Franchising Director, Regulator and BoardU.K.

215 Assumption of functions of Franchising Director.U.K.

(1)Schedule 16 transfers to the Authority the functions of the Franchising Director.

(2)All the property, rights and liabilities of the Franchising Director (including any rights and liabilities relating to staff appointed by him) are by virtue of this section transferred to the Authority.

(3)Nothing in this Part affects the validity of anything done by or in relation to the Franchising Director.

(4)There may be continued by or in relation to the Authority anything (including legal proceedings) which is in the process of being done by or in relation to the Franchising Director when his functions, property, rights and liabilities are transferred to the Authority.

(5)Anything done by the Franchising Director which is in effect immediately before his functions, property, rights or liabilities are transferred to the Authority shall be treated as if done by the Authority.

(6)The Authority shall be substituted for the Franchising Director in private Acts, instruments made under Acts, other documents and legal proceedings.

(7)For the purposes of the M9Employment Rights Act 1996, where a person employed in the civil service of the state becomes an employee of the Authority by virtue of this section—

(a)his period of employment in the civil service of the state counts as a period of employment with the Authority, and

(b)the change of employment does not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(8)In consequence of the preceding provisions of this section the office of Franchising Director is abolished.

(9)If the Secretary of State determines that there are special circumstances which make it right that the person who is the Franchising Director immediately before the office is abolished should receive compensation, the Secretary of State shall pay to that person such compensation as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

Commencement Information

I3S. 215 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

Marginal Citations

M91996 c. 18.

216 Assumption of certain functions of [F4Office of Rail Regulation].U.K.

Schedule 17 makes provision for the transfer to the Authority of certain functions of the [F4Office of Rail Regulation] and of associated property, rights and liabilities.

Textual Amendments

F4Words in s. 216 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Sch. 2 para. 19(t)(ii); S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

Commencement Information

I4S. 216 wholly in force at 1.2.2001; s. 216 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 275(1)(2); s. 216 in force (30.1.2001) for certain purposes by S.I. 2001/57, art. 2, Sch. 1; s. 216 in force (1.2.2001) in so far as it is not already in force by S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch, 2 Pt. II)

217 Assumption of Board’s functions relating to transport police.U.K.

(1)Schedule 18 transfers to the Authority the functions of the Board relating to the British Transport Police and associated property, rights and liabilities.

(2)The Authority shall exercise its functions relating to the British Transport Police Force in such manner and to such extent as appears to the Authority to be best calculated to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of that Force; and section 207 does not apply to those functions.

Commencement Information

I5S. 217 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

218 Functions relating to Board’s property.U.K.

(1)Schedule 19 makes provision for the transfer to the Authority of other property, rights and liabilities of the Board.

(2)Any property, rights and liabilities which are transferred to the Authority by virtue of Schedule 19 but are not required by the Authority for the discharge of any of its other functions shall be disposed of or otherwise dealt with by the Authority—

(a)in accordance with directions given to it by the Secretary of State, and

(b)subject to that, in the way which appears to the Authority most economic and efficient.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) (and subject to directions given to it by the Secretary of State), the Authority may (in particular)—

(a)retain and manage property,

(b)develop land with a view to disposing of it, and

(c)acquire land for the purpose of developing it with the land which it adjoins.

(4)Section 207 does not apply to the functions in subsections (2) and (3).

Other powersU.K.

F5219 Power to make bye-laws.E+W+S

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Textual Amendments

F5S. 219 repealed (16.10.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(c), Sch. 13 Pt. 1 (with s. 14(4)(5), 46(4), Sch. 11 para. 11(2), Sch. 13 para. 2); S.I. 2005/2812, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

220 Power to make transfer schemes.U.K.

Schedule 21 makes provision for the making of transfer schemes by the Authority.

Commencement Information

I6S. 220 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

221 Power to promote and oppose Bills.E+W+S

The Authority—

(a)may promote in Parliament Bills relating to railways, and

(b)may oppose any Bill in Parliament.

Commencement Information

I7S. 221 wholly in force at 1.2.2001, see s. 275(1)(2) and S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to the transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

222 Other incidental powers.E+W+S

(1)The Authority may do anything which it considers—

(a)is necessary or appropriate for or for facilitating, or

(b)is incidental or conducive to,

the exercise of any of its functions.

(2)In particular, the Authority may—

(a)enter into agreements,

(b)acquire or dispose of property,

(c)invest money,

(d)form bodies corporate or acquire or dispose of interests in bodies corporate, and

(e)promote or assist in the promotion of publicity.

(3)This section has effect subject to any provision of this Part, or of any other enactment, limiting the powers of the Authority.