ORR Chairman says industry must work in partnership to build on its success
27 June 2007
ORR/17/07
ORR Chairman Chris Bolt today set out the challenges to providing a safe, high-performing efficient and developing railway in Great Britain.
Chris Bolt was addressing the Institute of Economic Affairs’ conference on The Future of Rail in London.
He told delegates: “It is good news for the railways that demand is growing year on year. But at the same time, expectations are increasing. Passengers rightly expect a safe and reliable service. But they also want a more accessible railway, with reduced crowding, better information on services and fares and an improved overall journey experience. We should all be concerned that they do not feel they are getting this.
“A safe, high performing, efficient and developing railway requires effective partnership between Network Rail and train operators to meet the needs of passengers and freight users, within a strategic planning and funding framework set by Government. But Government is not the customer, any more than it is the regulator. Key players in the industry must be clear about their roles and focus relentlessly on delivery, working together and exchanging hard truths to deliver what users of the railway expect. They must also work together in planning and delivering the improved and expanded services and improved value for money, which will allow the railway to develop and grow and overcome the challenges it faces.
“ORR, as the independent safety and economic regulator, will continue to monitor and report on performance, safety risk and asset management in our quarterly publications, and enforce delivery where it is needed – as we are doing following Network Rail’s failure to deliver the resignalling scheme at Portsmouth.”
Notes to editors:
- Performance on the railways has climbed steadily since the restrictions placed on the network following the Hatfield derailment in 2000.The Public Performance Measure at the end of Network Rail’s monitoring Period 2, 2006-07 reached 91.0%, compared with an annual figure of 78.0% for 2001/02.
- Delay minutes caused by train operators continue to fall; although there was a small increase in the number of delay minutes caused by Network Rail. Delays caused by TOCs to own trains: 5.058 million minutes in 2005/06; 4.165 million minutes in 2006/07. Delays caused by TOCs to other TOCs: 1.748 million minutes in 2005/06; 1.508 million minutes in 2006/07. Delays caused by Network Rail: 10.460 million minutes in 2005/06; 10.483 million minutes in 2006/07.
- The number of broken rails and ‘severe’ SPADs (signals passed at danger) on the network are both at historical lows. Network Rail broken rails: 444 in 2002; 227 in 2006. SPADS judged as ‘severe’: 105 in 202; 18 in 2006.
- Earlier this month ORR found that Network Rail had breached its licence conditions in relation to the over-running of a signalling project in Portsmouth. There is yet to be an announcement on any penalty that may be imposed for this breach.
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