ORR welcomes Network Rail's continuing progress
19 September 2007
ORR/26/07
ORR today publishes its fourth annual statement on Network Rail’s performance.
The assessment covers April 2006 to March 2007, and examines how the company has operated, maintained, renewed and developed the mainline rail network, and protected the public and its workforce. It takes a more detailed look at some of the issues covered in ORR’s Network Rail monitor publication from June.
ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery said: “We welcome Network Rail's continuing progress. The company is now past the midway point in the current five-year control period, and it is achieving nearly all the targets expected of it when we set these in 2003.
"Safety performance has continued to improve. We note the accident frequency rate for Network Rail’s workforce and contractors continues to fall, with clear improvements in maintenance and renewals.
“Delays caused by failed infrastructure have been reduced, and asset condition has generally improved during the year; with a significant reduction in the number of broken rails and temporary speed restrictions overall. There are challenges for the company over the number of track faults, the continuing high level of points failures, and issues relating to electrification and power supply equipment.
"We note Network Rail’s net debt and expenditure were both marginally higher than the previous year. And while cumulative expenditure over the first three years of the control period is below that assumed, there has been significantly higher spend on track.
"We want Network Rail to build on this progress and to seek and sustain further improvements in the remaining two years of the control period. We encourage all in the company to redouble their efforts and so help create a higher performing railway for passengers and users of railway services."
During the year, the derailment of a train at Grayrigg in Cumbria resulted in the death of one woman.
Notes for editors
- ORR’s annual assessment of Network Rail can be found here: www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/339.pdf
Press enquiries
ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2188/2007
