The funding of passenger rail services

xi  It is Government policy that passenger rail services are publicly specified, procured and, where necessary, funded, but are privately delivered by train operators.

xii  In 2006-07, the passenger railway in England and Wales cost nearly £9 billion, with £4.8 billion funded from passenger revenues received by train operators, £0.8 billion from the Department's net subsidy support to train operators, £3.1 billion from Department grants to Network Rail (part of which meets train operators' track access charges), and £0.3 billion from Department grants to Passenger