4 The Access Code tries to incentivise the Infracos to plan ahead by specifying minimum time limits for requesting access. For example, a minor closure requires 222 days notice, access to track needs 28 days notice, and access to stations 21 days notice.
5 LUL does allow access with less than 48 hours notice, but this is to be done only as a last resort. Infracos can also request urgent access during engineering hours if failure to do the work would adversely affect passenger services or safety.
6 Work during engineering hours is "free". After that, the Infracos are allocated a specific number of Lost Customer Hours which they can use for maintenance and engineering works during closures.
7 The Access Code puts access on a commercial footing and has encouraged all parties, including LUL, to recognise the value of conducting work during engineering hours and ensuring that access is made available on time. Depending on the cause, LUL may be penalised if it hands over sections of the track later than scheduled. Similarly, the Infraco must hand back the track to LUL on time, or face Engineering Overrun Service Points at 5 Service Points - or £250 - per minute.
8 If a party is delayed more than 15 minutes for access during engineering hours or for a week day minor closure, 2 hours for a weekend minor closure, or 1 day for a lift or escalator closure, then the responsible party must pay compensation -from £800 for any routine, planned preventative works (maintenance, fault fixing, etc.), £6,000 for other works, £180,000 for weekend minor closures, £2,000 (up to £20,000) for lift and escalator closures, and £500 for routeway closures. These figures are illustrative, based on the average cost per activity, because the rules are complex and various scales apply.
9 Examples of access booking include:
■ Minor track closure (i.e. a closure at any time during 9pm-6am on a week day or anytime at weekends) - Infraco SSL sought access from LUL for a minor closure of the track between Kings Cross to Farringdon for ballasted track renewals between 27/02/04 to 01/03/04. In accordance with the Access Code, the request was made 222 days in advance. LUL approved the closure.
■ Access to track and station - Infraco BCV requested access to track and station at Acton Town on 1 May 2003 to install track signage, cross track walkways and general track maintenance. A closure was not required. The track is owned by Infraco SSL, the station by Tube lines, yet Infraco BCV is responsible for the maintenance of the track. Therefore Infraco BCV had to request access to the track from Infraco SSL and access to the station from Infraco JNP. Infraco BCV recorded the request on Sabre and access was granted by both parties. This work was completed within engineering hours.