ORR publishes latest report on Network Rail's performance

13 June 2012

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today published its latest report on Network Rail’s performance. The report covers quarter four (8 January – 31 March 2012) and includes an annual assessment of 2011-12.  It highlights key areas where considerable improvements must be made as well as detailing some successes that have benefited customers.

The Network Rail Monitor shows that:

• Network Rail missed many of its punctuality targets last year, especially for long distance services. It must now put into practice its plans to deliver better train performance. ORR will closely monitor progress in 2012-13 and will consider enforcement action if Network Rail does not deliver what it has promised. If the company fails to deliver its 2013-14 end of year punctuality target of 92%, ORR has proposed it will face a financial penalty of £1.5m for every 0.1 percentage point it falls short of the target.
• In January 2012, ORR required Network Rail to address poor performance in the freight sector. Network Rail, at the end of 2011, was 11% behind its freight punctuality target. The company set up a  ‘recovery board’ to find solutions with its freight customers, which is working well.
• Network Rail has developed better plans to improve the way it manages the railway infrastructure. But, overall progress is not as fast as it needs to be. 
• Network Rail has made good progress delivering a substantial programme of enhancements. This has enabled the train operating company Southern to run longer trains, and more trains are running on the North London Line. Good progress has also been made on the first phase of the North West electrification programme.
• Disruption to passengers and to freight trains caused by planned engineering work has declined, and disruption levels are now lower than the regulatory target. Passengers have seen real improvements, for example in terms of fewer replacement buses running instead of trains.

To read the Network Rail Monitor see: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/network_rail_monitor_1112q4.pdf