ORR consults on the delivery of its sustainable development and environmental duties
11 October 2006
ORR/30/06
The Office of Rail Regulation has today published a consultation paper on the delivery of our sustainable development and environment duties. The paper examines how ORR currently discharges its statutory obligations in respect of these duties, and discusses a number of proposals that will allow it to fulfil these duties more effectively in the future.
The consultation delivers a commitment in ORR’s 2006 Corporate Strategy and Business Plan to take a more proactive approach in these particular areas.
Bill Emery, ORR’s Chief Executive, said:
“The issue of how we improve our quality of life through a sustainable economy which uses the world's natural resources efficiently and effectively without damaging the environment is of increasing concern to us all. The rail industry has traditionally been regarded as an environmentally friendly mode of transport, and it has never been more important to ensure that the industry continues to contribute positively towards sustainable development.”
The consultation reviews the current industry arrangements for facilitating and incentivising improved sustainable development performance, and seeks the views of the industry and other interested parties on the steps that ORR proposes to take to improve its contribution toward ensuring that the rail industry moves forward in line with the UK Government’s sustainable development strategy.
ORR sees this consultation as an opportunity for interested parties to give their views. These will be important in helping us to ensure that the rail industry’s approach to these issues is properly focused on delivering a sustainable railway – one which is affordable, efficient and safe for all its customers today, tomorrow and into the future.
Notes to editors
- The consultation paper ORR’s sustainable development and environment duties is avialable from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/304.pdf.
- ORR commissioned a report from Enviros Consulting Limited which benchmarked its current activities against other UK and international regulatory/transport organizations, and identified examples of best practice. These organisations were the Civil Aviation Authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, OFWAT, OFSTED, the International Union of Railways, the International Union of Public Transport and the Federal Railroad Administration. This report is available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/sd-enviros_benchapps-finrep-aug06.pdf.
- The closing date for responses to this consultation is 12:00 hours on Friday 22 December 2006.
Press enquiries
ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2188/2007
