2003 No. 1696

TRANSPORT

The Merseyrail Electrics Network Order 2003

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 76(7C) and 77(9C) of the Railways Act 19931, and after consultation in accordance with those sections, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement1

This Order may be cited as the Merseyrail Electrics Network Order 2003 and shall come into force on 29th July 2003.

Interpretation2

In this Order—

  • “the 1993 Act” means the Railways Act 1993;

  • “concession agreement” means an agreement entered into by the Merseyside PTE (using its powers under section 10 of the Transport Act 19682) pursuant to which another person agrees to provide railway passenger services on the Merseyrail Electrics network;

  • “concession operator” means, in relation to a concession agreement, the person who has agreed to provide railway passenger services on the Merseyrail Electrics network under that agreement;

  • “the Merseyrail Electrics network” means the network incorporating railway lines which run exclusively along the routes specified in the Schedule and which is used for the support, guidance and operation of trains serving exclusively those routes;

  • “the Merseyside PTE” means the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive; and

  • “network station” means a station at which the only regular railway passenger services which are provided operate exclusively on the Merseyrail Electrics network.

Modification of the general duties of the Rail Passengers’ Council3

1

The duties imposed by section 76 of the 1993 Act shall, in relation to railway passenger services which operate exclusively on the Merseyrail Electrics network and station services relating to the provision or operation of a network station, apply with the following modifications.

2

Section 76 shall be read as if:

a

for the references to a “franchise agreement” there were substituted references to the concession agreement under which such services are for the time being provided;

b

for the references to “the franchisee” there were substituted references to the concession operator under the relevant concession agreement;

c

in subsections (2), (4), (5), (5A), (6)(b) and (7), for the references to “the Authority” there were substituted “the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive”; and

d

in subsection (6)(a), after the reference to “the Secretary of State” there were inserted the words “the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive”.

3

In section 76(4)(b), references to services provided on behalf of the Merseyside PTE shall not include services provided under a concession agreement.

4

Where the Rail Passengers’ Council considers it appropriate to do so, a matter may be referred under section 76(5) to the Strategic Rail Authority in addition to the Merseyside PTE.

5

Section 76(8) shall be disregarded.

Modification of the general duties of Rail Passengers’ Committees4

1

The duties imposed by section 77 of the 1993 Act shall, in relation to railway passenger services which operate exclusively on the Merseyrail Electrics network and station services relating to the provision or operation of a network station, apply with the following modifications.

2

Section 77 shall be read as if:

a

for the references to a “franchise agreement” there were substituted references to the concession agreement under which such services are for the time being provided;

b

for the references to “the franchised services” there were substituted references to the services provided under the relevant concession agreement;

c

for the references to “the franchisee” or “the franchise operator” there were substituted references to the concession operator under the relevant concession agreement; and

d

in subsections (2), (3), (4), (4A) and (5)(b), for the references to “the Authority” there were substituted “the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive”.

3

In section 77(3)(b), references to services provided on behalf of the Merseyside PTE shall not include services provided under a concession agreement.

4

Where a Rail Passengers’ Committee considers it appropriate to do so, a matter may be referred under section 77(4) to the Strategic Rail Authority in addition to the Merseyside PTE.

5

In section 77(6), (7) and (8), a reference to “the Authority” may be construed as if it were a reference to either “the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive” or “the Authority”, as appropriate.

6

Section 77(10) shall be disregarded.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Kim HowellsMinister of State,Department for Transport

SCHEDULESpecified Routes

  • Liverpool Central-Hunts Cross

  • Liverpool Central-Southport

  • Liverpool Central-Kirkby

  • Liverpool Central-Ormskirk

  • Liverpool Loop-New Brighton/West Kirkby via James Street, Moorfields, Lime Street and Central underground stations

  • Liverpool Loop-Chester/Ellesmere Port

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order relates to the Merseyrail Electrics railway network (“the network”).

Articles 3 and 4 modify the duties imposed by section 76 and 77 of the Railways Act 1993 (general duties of the Rail Passengers’ Council and Rail Passengers’ Committees respectively) in relation to railway passenger and station services provided exclusively on the network so as to provide for the involvement of the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive in place of, or alongside, the Strategic Rail Authority. Railway passenger services on the network will be provided on and after 20th July 2003 by a concession operator under a concession agreement with the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive, rather than under a franchise agreement with the Strategic Rail Authority. The railway passenger services on the network were exempted from designation as being subject to franchising under the Merseyrail Electrics Network Order 2002 (S.I.2002/1946).