Rail Industry Year 2000 compliance rating 70% Blue - Independent assessment shows substantial progress

12 July 1999
ORR/99/25

Following completion of the independent assessment by WS Atkins Management Consultants, appointed in February of this year, the national rail industry's business continuity status is rated at a 70% 'blue' level according to the guidelines of the Government's Action 2000 'traffic light' rating. This rating indicates that the industry is on course with its compliance programme and the network will be 'available for service' over the Millennium period. The assessment made by the Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) rates safety critical systems as 'blue', presenting no risk of material disruption. (See notes to Editors.)

The Rail Regulator will issue his findings on the national rail industry's status for Year 2000 compliance at the Government's Action 2000 Forum on Tuesday 13 July. The Atkins'assessment shows that the industry has made substantial progress in its compliance work since the interim assessment findings issued on 21 April. The cross-industry systems controlling the main processes have moved from 70% Blue to 95% Blue, whilst the industry as a whole has gained a rating of 70% Blue from its previous assessment as Amber.

The assessment has also disclosed the individual banding of train operators and summarises the way forward. Out of thirty-one operators, three were banded as +75 to 100% Blue, twenty were banded as +50 to 75% Blue whilst only eight were in the lower band of +25 to 50% Blue. In all cases the balance of the rated assessment was Amber. There were no operators banded as 100% Amber; there are no elements of Red assessment.

The industry is estimated to move to 100% Blue by October of this year. The main areas of risk outstanding are in supplier verification and the completion of continuity plans. However substantial progress has been made in both areas in recent weeks.

The monitoring of the industry is continuing and the Regulator has set up a process for ongoing reporting on compliance progress with the industry body, the Rail Millennium Programme Office.

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Notes to Editors:

1. Enforcement and monitoring of compliance with health and safety regulations is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In December 1998 HSE's HM Railway Inspectorate issued and initial assessment report on railway critical systems and Y2K problems. The main conclusion was that the potential threat to the safety of passengers and staff is judged to be low because very few systems use computers or programmable devices in a safety role. HMRI is continuing to review the Millenium safety of railways.

2. The 'traffic light code' is as follows:

Blue - Assessment has not identified any risks of material distruption to the infrastructure processes.
Amber - Some risk of material disruption to infrastructure processes exists, but there is an agreed containment plan to recify shortcomings.
Red - Severe risk of material disruption to infrastructure processes. Timely rectification may not be possible.
White - Unable to form assessment with present level of information.

Rail Industry Independent Assessment - February to May 1999
Score Bandings Table - Business Continuity

Summary of Action 2000 Colour Codes

Blue - No evidence of material disruption identified

Amber - Some risk of material disruption identified but containment plan in process.

Red - Severe risk of material disruption identified

White - No assessment possible