First official visit to Scotland for new Rail Regulator

22 September 1999
ORR/99/40

In the course of a two day visit to Scotland on 27 and 28 September 1999, the Rail Regulator, Tom Winsor, will challenge the railway industry in Scotland to show the Scottish people and parliament what it can contribute to the integrated transport policies of both the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government.

Commenting on his visit, Tom Winsor said: "I shall want to receive clear vision of what the railway can offer Scotland by delivery of a focussed and innovative programme to renew and enhance the network. It is very important that the periodic review of Railtrack's access charges, which we now have in progress, ensures that the costs charged by the railway in Scotland are fair and reasonable and represent value for money for the Scottish taxpayer, and that the industry delivers a better railway."

In this, his first official visit to Scotland since taking up his appointment in July, Tom Winsor will see work start on the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line between Gretna and Carstairs, and he will open new joint-offices for Railtrack and First Engineering at Yoker. He will also meet the Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack MSP, Helen Millar, Chair of the Scottish Rail Users' Consultative Committee, and the senior management of Scotrail and Railtrack.

Tom Winsor is a Scot, born, brought up and educated in Scotland, and a lawyer admitted to practise in Scotland.