Rail Regulator publishes Operational Plan for year 2000-2001

23 June 2000
ORR/00/19

Following publication of a draft Operational Plan in April 2000, the Rail Regulator, Tom Winsor, has today published the final version of the Operational Plan 2000-2001 for the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR). The first part of this Operational Plan states the Regulator's overall aim and key objectives, and the second part sets out in broad terms the programme of work for his office in 2000-2001. This includes implementing the recommendations of recent reviews of railway safety, monitoring Railtrack's compliance with its network licence, raising the railway industry's awareness of the Competition Act 1998, reviewing Railtrack's strategy for rail freight development, and determining Railtrack's level of access charges for the next control period (April 2001-2006).

Commenting on the ORR Operational Plan for 2000-2001, Tom Winsor said:

This Operational Plan is the most comprehensive account ORR has ever given of its proposed activities. We set out the key things we expect to be doing over the next year, explain why we will be doing them, and indicate timescales. These aims are to be achieved by the dedication of the talents of enabled, motivated staff at all levels applying high standards in all that they do, and by constructive interaction with the railway industry and all its stakeholders.

The Government's review of the privatised utilities recommended that each of the sectoral regulators should consult on a draft programme of work to be undertaken by their office in the year ahead, and that they should then report back on progress against this plan twelve months later. Although this review did not cover his office, Tom Winsor, the Rail Regulator, considers that many of there views conclusions represent best practice for any regulatory body. He will therefore follow the review model, publishing an annual Operational plan for the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR), consulting each year on the future one and reporting back on the previous one. From 2001 this report will take a longerview, outlining expected ORR activities over a three-year period.

A copy of the document Operational Plan 2000-2001 is available from the ORR Librarian, Sue MacSwan, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2TQ. Tel: 020 7282 2001, fax: 020 7282 2045, e-mail: rail.library@orr.gsi.gov.uk.