ORR Board visits Manchester

15 October 2007
ORR/27/07

Board members from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) will be meeting rail industry stakeholders on a two day visit to Manchester on 15-16 October.

On 15 October, the Board will be welcomed by Manchester Metrolink, where they will be given a guided tour of the Queens Road depot. During the evening, the Board will meet a number of industry stakeholders from the North West region including Manchester Metrolink, First TransPenine Express, Northern Rail, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (Merseytravel) and Freightliner.

On 16 October there will be a Board meeting followed by a meeting with staff from ORR’s Manchester, Wrexham and Sheffield regional offices.

Commenting on  the Board’s third 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 we can help and engage with them, as well as meeting colleagues from the region. It also provides us with a great opportunity to see the rail industry in action."

Notes for editors

1. In addition to the Chairman, Chris Bolt, the Board consists of five non executive directors: Peter Bucks, Richard Goldson OBE, Dr Chris Elliott, Jane May and Jim O’Sullivan; plus Bill Emery, chief executive; Michael Beswick, director of rail policy; Linda Williams, chief inspector of railways; Michael Lee, director of access, planning and performance; and John Thomas, director of competition and regulatory economics.
2. The Board’s first meeting outside London took place in Glasgow on -13 October 2006, and the second one was in Wales on 19-20 March 2007.
3. Biographical notes and photographs of Board members are available from our website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1197.

Press enquiries

ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2188/2007