Summary and Background
3.The main purpose of this Act is to tackle the long-standing structural problems of the railways.
4.The Act gives effect to the proposals that require primary legislation in the White Paper “The Future of Rail”, published on 15th July, 2004.
5.The White Paper set out the conclusion of the rail review which the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 19th January 2004. The aim of the review was to develop proposals for a simplified structure and organisation for Britain's railways.
6.A list of Acronyms used in these explanatory notes is attached at Annex B.