We offer expert advice on the full operations cycle of the rail and bus industries – we know and understand what the most recent and up to date position is in relation to both of these sectors. Both our partners and associates have valuable knowledge of this area. We can be relied upon to know what is market standard and apply our expertise in the way that will be most beneficial for our clients. The rail industry in particular is in a period of significant reform. The pandemic fundamentally changed its operating model and finances – but change was already underway pre-pandemic and the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail promises significant structural change. Not only that, relationships within the industry will be fundamentally shifting, together with the contracts and incentive mechanisms that support these relationships. We have been with the industry through the turbulent times of the past few years and continue to be at the forefront of industry developments and thought leadership.

One of the core themes of rail reform is industry cost: the need to grow passenger numbers – and increase revenue, as well as ensuring the industry is as cost-efficient as possible. The introduction of the National Rail Contract and long-term Passenger Services Contract models require a fundamental shift in thinking. And all of this at a time when the legal and regulatory framework for the industry is in flux. These are exciting times for rail in the UK. 

In Europe, the market has been open to greater competition since the 1990s and this is expected to continue with the recast of the First Railway Package and the introduction of the Fourth Railway Package.

These are also exciting times for buses: with major UK Cities starting to implement or considering bus franchising schemes, giving local authorities better control over bus services offered to people living in those areas. 

Our team acts for private sector operators and owning groups, public bodies, financiers, lessors, industry bodies, infrastructure owners, manufacturers and maintainers. Our team includes lawyers who have worked in or been seconded to the transport industry, including to General Counsel roles in both of High Speed 1 and High Speed 2, and roles within operators and owning groups.

We can help you with:

• operating agreements (including franchise agreements and concessions (rail and bus), National Rail Contracts, Passenger Services Contracts, direct awards, emergency amendment agreements)
• decarbonisation projects – including battery, hydrogen and hybrid solutions for buses and trains (and related infrastructure)
• mobilisations and demobilisations
• rolling stock and bus procurement, operation, leasing and maintenance
• supply chain contracts, including technology and signalling arrangements
• rail regulation, regulated and unregulated access agreements and options
• stations, depots (rail and bus) and adjacent property
• construction contracts and real estate
• employment, unions and pensions
• infrastructure procurement, ownership, operation and maintenance
• dispute resolution in transport
• procurement (including challenges)
• competition issues
• joint ventures
• intellectual property rights and protection (including cyber security issues)
• planning and environmental issues
• data protection and information
  
   

Twitter @LegalRail

"An unrivalled knowledge of the mechanisms and changes within the rail industry. Act as honest brokers who are able to deliver difficult advice, rather than blindly accepting instruction." 

The Legal 500 UK 2023

Rail - Franchising, concessions and operating agreements

• Advising Transport UK Group (formerly Abellio) operators and Trenitalia c2c: in response to the impact of Covid-19, advising on the Emergency Measures Agreements and Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements with the DfT to vary the underlying franchise agreement in light of the extraordinary impact of the pandemic and reduction in passenger numbers. Subsequently advising these operators and Arriva in relation to the termination of existing arrangements and migration to (and terms of) the National Rail Contract direct award to ensure ongoing operation of the railway and ongoing advice in relation to the operation of that contract and the business planning process.
• Advising Transport for London/Rail for London in connection with the management of the Crossrail/Elizabeth line concession, including deeds of amendment.
• Advising on ongoing aspects of franchise/concession businesses and regulated contracts – including Transport UK Group (formerly Abellio), Arriva and Trenitalia UK subsidiaries. This has included in relation to supply chain arrangements for delivery of commitments, operator workforces (including employment and pensions), data protection, leases with tenants, construction contracts. Advising on a range of commercial relationships such as facilities management, customer interfaces, industry ticketing arrangements, procurement issues, station services, ticketing systems/equipment and other commercial contracts with goods and services providers.
• Advising a train operating group in relation to its challenge, in the high court, of the DfT's decision to disqualify a bid to run a particular franchise on the UK rail network.

Rolling stock procurement and maintenance

• Advising Spanish manufacturer CAF in relation to the project documents for the sale of rolling stock for various train operations, including Northern Ireland Railway, Docklands Light Railway, Caledonian Sleeper, West Coast, Nexus Metro, Wales and Borders, LNER, HS2 and for trams purchased by the West Midlands Combined Authority for operation in Birmingham.
• Advising Trenitalia c2c on the procurement, manufacture, supply and maintenance arrangements for the supply of a new Aventra fleet, together with the construction contracts for associated depot modifications and ongoing "in-life" advice.
• Advising Lombard North Central, part of the RBS Banking Group, in relation to the manufacture and supply by Vivarail to South Western Railway of five class 484 two-car electric multiple units, which will be manufactured by Vivarail using bodyshells and bogies from former London Underground District Line cars. 
• Advising a manufacturer of rolling stock in relation to claims for delay and the resolution of differences between the parties associated with the delivery of new trains. This also included through the use of formal dispute resolution procedures.

Rail regulation

• Advising Transport for London on the design, formation and implementation of the regulatory structure for the Crossrail infrastructure and Elizabeth line services. This has involved advice on the set-up and constitution of the infrastructure company, design and drafting of all regulatory and access documentation, interpretation and compliance with UK and EU law and regulation, extensive industry consultation and Office of Rail and Road interface. We have also given detailed advice on access arrangements with Network Rail and Heathrow Airport and the interface with the HS2 project at Old Oak Common.
• Advising various train operators on their consultation responses to various aspects of the Office of Rail and Road's periodic review process in connection with its review of Network Rail's access charges, including within the framework of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.
• Advising Transport for London in relation to the transfer of certain stations on the West Anglia route (and Crossrail services) into TfL, including a new lease and station access structure.

Rail infrastructure

• Advising CAF on the real estate, planning, construction and regulation of a new manufacturing facility in Newport, Wales. The Newport facility will be a strategically important facility supporting CAF's ongoing rolling stock manufacturing work.
• Advising Trenitalia c2c on the redevelopment of stations and adjoining land in connection with wider developments at Purfleet and Stanford-le-Hope.

Buses and road – Franchising, concessions, infrastructure and depots

• Advising Zenobe Energy in connection with its contracts with bus operators including the provision of charging infrastructure and batteries and the lease of bus chassis and the risks associated with each. This has included advising on the obligations in relation to the installation of charging infrastructure, the provision of electricity supply and the interface between the chassis, the batteries, and the charging infrastructure as each is a stand-alone project. We have also advised on the supply contracts from manufacturers and the warranties obtained from manufacturers.
• Advising CAF in relation to its onboard energy/battery provision to the local authority pursuant to a services arrangements, which included a consideration of warranties as well as future proofing the supply of energy/batteries.
• Advising a major transport company on its strategy and bids to operate bus franchises. Also advising on the procurement of new electric buses and related depot infrastructure required for charging.