Record number of Open Access bids for limited train paths

Open Access - the operation of passenger rail services without public subsidy - faces an uncertain future, because of a lack of space on already congested main lines and problems with acquiring new rolling stock.

These are among the findings of a new report from the Office of Rail and Road, which currently has a record total of seven applications in its in-tray.

It is the role of the ORR to judge whether new private enterprises will generate new customers to rail, rather than merely abstracting existing customers from the present operators.