35. Once Railtrack has purchased Section 1, it must provide Eurostar UK with access to the track and stations. Eurostar UK will be entitled to four passenger train paths an hour in each direction and to six train paths an hour when the entire Link is complete. Detailed conditions have also been agreed covering service intervals, stopping patterns and journey times. Eurostar UK will pay access charges to Railtrack for its use of the Link, made up of a number of components:
a) a fixed track charge designed to provide Railtrack with a return on its investment;
b) operational and maintenance charges (to be reviewed every ten years);
c) traction electricity charges (similar to those charged to domestic train operators);
d) rates based on an expected value to December 2010 (subject to review every five years); and
e) land rentals from 203018.
36. Railtrack will also be obliged to make the Link available to domestic train services. At peak hours, provision has to be made for the operation of 8 services an hour in each direction, reducing to 4 services an hour at other times.
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18 These land rentals are then paid by Railtrack to the Government, which retains the freehold of the land used by the Link.