ORR welcomes rail White Paper, and statement of rail requirements for 2009-14
24 July 2007
ORR/21/07
The Office of Rail Regulation today welcomed publication of the Government’s White Paper setting out its strategy for rail for the next 30 years, and the outputs and funding for 2009-14.
ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery said: “We and the railway industry will study the White Paper carefully. We all welcome the importance the Government attaches to improving the railway. It will be a big challenge to the industry to deliver what is needed for passengers and the wider economy.”
The White Paper – Delivering a Sustainable Railway - was published today by Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly. The Secretary of State also published her requirements of the railways of England and Wales for the period from 2009-14; and the amount of public money she will make available to support these railways.
Bill Emery said: “This is a key stage in our periodic review of Network Rail’s funding and outputs. The Secretary of State and Scottish ministers have said what both governments want from the railways and how much they are prepared to pay. We have relayed these requirements to Network Rail, together with our final guidance on our expectations for its strategic business plan.
“It is now for Network Rail, working with industry partners, to finalise its plans to meet all the requirements of the Governments and the needs of rail users – both passengers and freight. We require the plan from Network Rail no later than 31 October.
“Over the last four years there has been good progress by Network Rail and the industry: costs are coming down, and performance has improved – although more recent trends have highlighted the need for Network Rail to redouble its efforts. Passengers and freight customers are returning to the railways.
”We will be looking for further significant improvements in Network Rail’s efficiency, performance, and ever better value for money year on year during the next five-year period.”
Notes to editors:
- The Office of Rail Regulation is the independent safety and economic regulator of railways in Great Britain.
- Following the requirements of Schedule 4A to the Railways Act 1993, in February 2007 ORR asked the Secretary of State for Transport to provide it with:
- ‘Information about what s/he wants to be achieved by railway activities in Great Britain as a whole during the review period; and
- Such information as it reasonable for her/him to provide about the public financial resources that are or are likely to become available to be applied during the review period for purposes that contribute (directly or indirectly) towards the achievement of what s/he wants’
Safety is a reserved matter and hence the Secretary of State's safety specification covers Great Britain as a whole. - ORR’s 2008 periodic review (PR08) will determine Network Rail’s outputs, revenue requirement and access charges for control period 4 (CP4) which will run from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014. More information on the Periodic Review process can be found at: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7596.
- Scottish Ministers published their specification and statement on funding on Friday 13 July 2007.
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