Rail Regulator to investigate commitments in Railtrack's Network Management Statement

25 March 1998
ORR/98/10

The Rail Regulator, JOHN SWIFT QC, commenting on Railtrack's annual Network Management Statement published today said:

"This statement reflects the new requirement in Railtrack's licence which I introduced last year. It provides passengers and freight customers with greater detail about Railtrack's plans. I welcome this better quality of information. It enables users to see what Railtrack is doing to improve the network for them. I also welcome the fact that Railtrack has stepped up its investment in the network.

"But the Statement, as it stands, contains very few firm commitments to deliver significant improvements across the railway network which passengers and freight customers can recognise as such. I therefore intend, as a first step, to find out from the train operators and funders of the railway whether Railtrack's Statement meets their reasonable needs, as required by Railtrack's licence. I must be satisfied that Railtrack has actively sought to identify these requirements and to reflect them in practical plans to improve the railway.

"In particular, I will now be investigating the sufficiency of:

• Railtrack's commitments to improved day-to-day performance of passenger and freight services.

• Committed plans to deal with bottlenecks on the network.

• Committed projects to renew and develop the network.

• Committed plans to meet the requirements of freight.

I will expect the train operating companies and funders to give me their responses to these points by the end of April."

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