Transport Act 2000

Consultative committees

227 Renaming of committees

(1) The Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee is renamed the Rail Passengers' Council and the Rail Users' Consultative Committees are renamed Rail Passengers' Committees.

(2) Schedule 22 makes amendments in consequence of subsection (1).

(3) References in private Acts, instruments made under Acts, other documents and legal proceedings to the Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee shall have effect as references to the Rail Passengers' Council; and such references to a Rail Users' Consultative Committee shall have effect as references to a Rail Passengers' Committee.

228 Extension of functions

(1) Sections 76 and 77 of the [1993 c. 43.] Railways Act 1993 (duties of Central Committee and consultative committees) are amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) of each of those sections, for paragraph (a) (duty to investigate any matter which relates to the provision of railway passenger services by the Board or a subsidiary, under a franchise agreement or on behalf of the Franchising Director) substitute—

“(a) to the provision of railway passenger services, or”.

(3) In—

(a) subsection (5)(b) of section 76, and

(b) subsection (4)(b) of section 77,

(matters to be referred), after “that” insert “a franchisee is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any term of the franchise agreement or that”.

(4) After subsection (7) of section 76 insert—

“(7A) It shall also be the duty of the Rail Passengers' Council, so far as it appears expedient from time to time to do so—

(a) to keep under review matters affecting the interests of the public in relation to railway passenger services and station services;

(b) to make representations to, and consult, such persons as they think appropriate about those matters; and

(c) to co-operate with other bodies representing the interests of users of public passenger transport services.

(7B) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Rail Passengers' Council, make an order excluding services from the duties imposed by this section; and an order under this subsection—

(a) may exclude services of a particular class or description, particular services or services provided by a particular person;

(b) may provide that services are excluded subject to compliance with specified conditions; and

(c) may not revoke an exclusion except for breach of condition or in accordance with the order which made it.

(7C) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Rail Passengers' Council, make an order providing that the duties imposed by this section apply to services of a particular class or description, particular services or services provided by a particular person—

(a) only to such extent as is specified by the order; or

(b) with such modifications as are so specified.”

(5) After subsection (9) of section 77 insert—

“(9A) It shall also be the duty of each Rail Passengers' Committee, so far as it appears expedient from time to time to do so—

(a) to keep under review matters affecting the interests of the public in relation to railway passenger services and station services; and

(b) to make representations to, and consult, such persons as they think appropriate about those matters; and

(c) to co-operate with other bodies representing the interests of users of public passenger transport services.

(9B) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Rail Passengers' Council, make an order excluding services from the duties imposed by this section; and an order under this subsection—

(a) may exclude services of a particular class or description, particular services or services provided by a particular person;

(b) may provide that services are excluded subject to compliance with specified conditions; and

(c) may not revoke an exclusion except for breach of condition or in accordance with the order which made it.

(9C) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Rail Passengers' Council, make an order providing that the duties imposed by this section apply to services of a particular class or description, particular services or services provided by a particular person—

(a) only to such extent as is specified by the order; or

(b) with such modifications as are so specified.”

229 Financial and procedural changes

Schedule 23 makes amendments of the provisions about the finances and procedures of consultative committees.