Office of Rail Regulation launches its review of the possessions regime
24 March 2005
ORR/13/05
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today issued its initial consultation document on its proposed review of Network Rail’s possessions strategy and Schedule 4 of franchised passenger operators’ track access contracts.
Network Rail’s possessions strategy has a significant impact on:
- its ability to deliver the required volumes of renewals and maintenance activity at a reasonable cost; and
- the level of disruption caused to train operators and their passenger and freight customers.
An appropriate trade-off is required to deliver an affordable railway whilst satisfying the needs of railway users.
Chris Bolt, ORR Chairman, said:
“Network Rail needs to develop possessions plans for its routes which balance the interests of users in terms of running trains and the long-term interests of users and taxpayers in terms of greater efficiency and improved performance. This consultation paper sets out a proposed approach to assessing what possessions strategy will achieve this. It also proposes a review of the provisions of track access agreements which provide financial incentives and compensation to Network Rail and train operators.”
Notes to editors
1. The Possessions Review: initial consultation document is available in the related links and is also available form the ORR Librarian, Sue MacSwan, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2TQ, tel: 020 7282 2001, fax: 020 7282 2045, email: rail.library@orr.gsi.gov.uk.
Press enquiries
ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2007/2141
out of office hours – pager 07659 127303
