ORR Board visits Wales

19 March 2007
ORR/08/07

The Board of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) will make a two-day visit to Wales on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 March 2007.

The Board will meet in Cardiff on Monday 19 March to consider an agenda that will include a paper on sustainable development policy. On Monday the Board will also have an informal meeting with Transport Wales, and meet other stakeholders in Wales including Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, and Passenger Focus.

On Tuesday 20 March, the ORR Board will meet members of Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) based in Wales, Network Rail will host a visit by the Board to the Cardiff signalling centre to see rush-hour train service operation, and Arriva Trains Wales will welcome the Board to the Company’s Canton depot.

Commenting on the ORR Board’s second meeting outside London, Chairman Chris Bolt said:
“This visit is part of ORR’s programme of listening to the rail industry to understand in what ways ORR can help the industry. In meetings with managers and stakeholders, we expect to discuss the longer-term plans for funding of Network Rail in Wales, and the rail industry’s performance in Wales.”

In addition to the Chairman, Chris Bolt, the ORR Board consists of Bill Emery, Chief Executive; Michael Beswick, Director of Rail Policy; Linda Williams, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Railways; Michael Lee, Director of Access, Planning and Performance; John Thomas, Director of Competition and Regulatory Economics; Peter Bucks; Richard Goldson OBE; Jeffrey Jowell QC; Jane May; and Jim O’Sullivan. The Board’s first meeting outside London took place in Glasgow on 12 and 13 October 2006.

Notes for editors:

Biographical notes and photographs of Board members are available from the ORR website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1197.

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