Rail companies agree to commit to earlier train timetable information

ORR/05a/99
2 March 1999

Chris Bolt, the Rail Regulator, has today sought the formal agreement of Railtrack and train operating companies to new enforceable licence obligations designed to ensure the early provision of timetable information. The move follows publication of a consultation document in January seeking a formal commitment that timetable information should be available twelve weeks in advance of any day of travel (the T minus 12 scheme).

Chris Bolt says:

"I welcome this willingness by the industry to enter into enforceable licence obligations to deliver T-12, especially in the case of those who are already regularly meeting their commitment. It is good news for passengers that timetable planning for Easter and the May Day bank holiday weekend is now complete. In future, I shall expect all operators to comply with the timescales, especially for busy holiday periods."

Responses to the Regulator's consultation showed that rail companies agreed with the principle of new enforceable obligations to secure delivery of T-12. The industry repeated its commitment to this principle at the Rail Summit last Thursday.

"In view of the responses to my earlier consultation, and the commitment given at the Rail Summit, I expect all passenger operators - and Railtrack - to give me their formal agreement to the necessary licence modifications as a matter of urgency", the Regulator added.

Once the companies have given formal agreement to the licence modifications, they will then be published, as required by statute, for final acceptance so that they can be brought into force.

In the past, the industry has had problems in delivering timetable information twelve weeks in advance. These problems reached a head last Christmas when some parts of the train timetable for certain operators were not ready until as little as two or three weeks before the holidays. The new licence obligations would make the twelve week commitment (known as T-12) a national railway standard enforceable by the Regulator.

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