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<p>Grand Central will not pay the same access charges as Intercity East Coast as Open
Access Operators do not pay Fixed Track Access Charges (FTAC). However, both Franchised
and Open Access Operators pay Variable Track Access Charges (VTAC) since these are
set to reflect the direct ‘wear and tear’ costs that train services impose on the
network when they are run.</p><p> </p><p>For Control Period 5 (CP5) the Office of
Rail Regulation (ORR) has held <ins class="ministerial">the Capacity Charge element
of VTAC at CP4 levels for services currently run by existing passenger Open Access
Operators, however they will pay CP5 rates for any additional or new services whilst
any new entrant Open Access Operator will pay CP4 rates on services below a set threshold
and CP5 rates on services above that threshold. </ins><del class="ministerial">Open
Access (both passenger and freight) VTAC at CP4 levels, whilst</del> Franchised Operators
pay the new, higher CP5 rates<del class="ministerial">.</del> <ins class="ministerial">for
both existing and new services. However, this is the only element of VTAC that is
calculated on a different basis.</ins></p><p> </p>
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