Regulator calls for passengers to join consultations on strategic rail plan
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17 March 1999 Extract from a speech by Chris Bolt, the Rail Regulator,speaking today at a meeting of the Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee at the Montague Hotel, Bloomsbury, London. "Last month's Rail Summit provided an opportunityfor ordinary rail users to express their views on current services and performance and the way these can be improved. I warmly congratulate the Central Rail Users' ConsultativeCommittee, and also the Rail Users' Consultative Committees,on bringing together over 40 consumer representatives for this landmark event. This passenger voice must continue to be heard in particular over the next few months as the Shadow SRA, and ORR, consult on Railtrack's next Network Management Statement. This will be published on 25 March, and will set out options for enhancing the network. Decisions will critically affect the development of the railway network over the next ten years. "The Transport Minister, Dr John Reid, has given theindustry the target of growing its passenger business from 1997/8 levels by a figure of 15% by 2001/2. The number of passenger journeys by rail has already risen by 14% over the last two years. To build on this the industry must improve its performance and increase services for sustained long-term growth in rail travel, we need to get people out of their cars on to rail. We have to know what rail needs to provide to achieve this, and how to get car owners thinking of their cars as intermodal vehicles providing transport for part of a journey, for which rail will provide the other part - probably the larger part. "The consultation process now beginning is a unique opportunity. It is an opportunity to supplement the information we will gain from the first-ever National Passenger Survey with information about future passengers, so that the railway industry can deliver the standard of railway service that will increasingly make rail the first choice, as part of a truly integrated transport system." PRESS ENQUIRIES: ORR Press Office - 0171 282 2007/2002 Copyright © 2002 Office of the Rail Regulator |
