The operation of passenger and freight train services is subject to a range of regulatory requirements designed to safeguard the public interest. Before being awarded an operating licence, therefore, a new operator has to satisfy the Office of Rail Regulation that it has the necessary competence, especially in safety management.
Business, commerce and industry in Wrexham all support the application by the Wrexham and Shropshire Railway for a direct rail service to London for the first time since 1957. The only people who are opposed to that are the subsidised franchised train operators in the midlands, who do not provide a direct service to Wrexham. Does my right hon. Friend believe that the rail regulator should take into account the interests of passengers first, not the interests of subsidised franchised rail operators?
My hon. Friend has made a persuasive and eloquent case in favour of the new service. He will understand, of course, that a decision on access to the network is one for the Office of Rail Regulation to take, and it will be made over the next few weeks. He also knows that it would not be appropriate for Ministers to seek to influence that decision. However, he should be aware that Network Rail has also raised concerns about the number of pathways that might be available to the new operator. As I say, a decision will be announced in the next few weeks.
Following on from the comments of the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas), can the Minister give a commitment to the House that he will ensure that Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation do not put up unnecessary barriers to entry as regards the direct link from Shropshire to London? Has he had any discussions about that route in relation to the issues raised today?
I have had meetings with my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham and several other colleagues about the merits of the case. However, I did not undertake to raise it directly with the Office of Rail Regulation, because it would not be appropriate for me to do so. I have every confidence that the ORR will make a decision based entirely on the merits of the application.