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PART IVOPERATION OF TRANSIT SYSTEM

Powers of disposal, agreements for operation, etc.

44.—(1) Without prejudice to its powers under section 10 of the Transport Act 1968 the undertaker may, in the case of the authorised transit system with the consent of the Secretary of State, sell, lease, charge or otherwise dispose of, on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, the whole or any part of the authorised works and any land held in connection therewith or the right to operate the works under this Order and any rights referred to in article 20.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) above, the undertaker may enter into and carry into effect agreements with respect to any of the following matters, namely, the construction, maintenance, use and operation of the authorised works, or any part or parts of them, by any other person, and other matters incidental or subsidiary thereto or consequential thereon, and the defraying of, or the making of contributions towards, the cost of the matters aforesaid by the undertaker or any other person.

(3) Any agreement under subsection (2) above may provide (inter alia) for the exercise of the powers of the undertaker in respect of the authorised works or any part thereof, and for the transfer to any person of the authorised works or any part thereof together with the rights and obligations of the undertaker in relation thereto.

(4) The exercise of the powers of any enactment by any person in pursuance of any sale, lease, charge or disposal under paragraph (1) above, or any agreement under paragraph (2) above, shall be subject to the same restrictions, liabilities and obligations as would apply under this Order if those powers were exercised by the undertaker.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that nothing in section 15(2) of the Transport Act 1968 shall apply in relation to the operation of the authorised transit system by any person other than the undertaker, but this paragraph is without prejudice to any provision with respect to charges that may be made in an agreement under paragraph (1) or (2) above.

(6) The railways board may enter into and carry into effect agreements with the undertaker under paragraph (2) above.