Regulator calls for stability following rail industry's most challenging year
|
26 September 2001 Rail Regulator Tom Winsor today published his annual report for the year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. The year was one of considerable activity with particular emphasis on the aftermath of the Hatfield derailment and the development and implementation of the national rail recovery plan. A great deal of work was put into the regulatory reform programme during the year. Mr Winsor said: "Railtrack now has a far clearer and better specification of the legitimate expectations which the industry and the public have of it. I welcome Railtrack's new management's commitment to meeting that expectation and will continue to commit the resources of my office to working with Railtrack positively to contribute to its achievement. "A relationship between regulated and regulator based on openness, honesty, a proper recognition of the roles of each, the challenges facing them and, above all, fairness provides the best basis for a successful railway." Looking to the future, Mr Winsor continued: "What the railway industry needs most is stability, predictability, clarity of responsibility, sound incentives and an overall environment which is friendly to investment. For too long and in too many respects it has lacked these essentials. With the work we have done this year, and the commitment and support of the railway industry, the groundwork has now been laid for success despite the setbacks of the past year. A new relationship between the industry's players based on co-operation, respect and a common objective of service to passengers and freight customers, and those who serve them, is by far the best way forward." The Office of the Rail Regulator's Annual Report 2000-2001 is available in hypertext format on line or in hard copy 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@dial.pipex.com. Media enquiriesTelephone: 020 7282 2130 / 2002 / 2007 Out of hours pager: 07659 127303 Copyright © 2002 Office of the Rail Regulator |
