Rail regulator Tom Winsor is this week expected to give the green light to higher track access charges by Network Rail.

However, the extra costs will be passed on to the taxpayer because the government has said it will protect train operating companies from unexpected increases in charges.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that aggrieved private shareholders in Railtrack - Network Rail's privatised predecessor - are shortly to send details of a legal claim for higher compensation to transport secretary Alistair Darling.