About Reckon > Which industries do we know about > Energy transport and utilities > Rail
Rail
We have knowledge and experience of the mainline railway sector in Great Britain.
We also take an interest in the regulation of the underground and light rail operations, and in the application of competition law in cases involving competition between rail and other modes (e.g. bus or coach).
Main contacts for work on rail
Contact: Franck Latrémolière
Contact: Nicholas Francis
Overview of our rail work
Our main service areas for the railway industry are:
- the application of competition law;
- the reviews of price controls;
- the regulation of access contracts and pricing;
- franchising agreements.
We have experience of engaging with industry parties at the detailed and operational level. We can procure and manage railway operational or technical advice where necessary.
Competition law in rail
We have experience of competition law enforcement (particularly exclusionary and exploitative abuses under Article 82), merger control and market studies in the railway sector.
Experience: Competition enforcement secondment (2006)
Experience: Rail merger (2006)
Experience: Rolling stock market study (2007)
Railway infrastructure price controls
Our skills in estimating future expenditure requirements for price control purposes apply to the railway sector.
Franck Latrémolière has experience of adapting productivity trend analyses to the specificities of railway infrastructure regulation in Great Britain, including adjustments for capital intensity and for the historical reliance on contracting-out.
Access to railway facilities
We are familiar with the main features of track access agreements and with detailed aspects of the ORR model clauses.
Our staff's experience includes:
- advice on the structure of access charges;
- advice on the ring-fencing of the infrastructure controller;
- the liability regime in track access agreements; and
- possible arrangements for compensating train operators for compulsory reductions in their access rights or protection from competition.
Experience: Structure of rail access charges (2004)
Further information
The following pages provide information on our services in related areas: