ORR publishes business plan for 2008-09
31 March 2008
ORR/10/08
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today publishes its business plan covering the period April 2008 – March 2009. This sets out ORR’s priorities for the forthcoming year.
The publication follows on from a stakeholder consultation on ORR’s draft plan in December 2007.
The five key priorities identified for 2008/09 are:
- securing robust plans for 2009 and beyond through the periodic review process;
- securing improved efficiency and performance;
- improving health and safety performance;
- improving and aligning relationships and incentives in the industry; and
- developing ORR as an efficient and effective combined safety and economic regulator.
Bill Emery, ORR Chief Executive said: “We would like to thank stakeholders for their comments which has helped ORR to produce a robust and coherent plan. Looking ahead, the business plan will play a part in shaping our corporate strategy for 2009-14.
“The next year is an important one for the railway industry in Britain, and ORR will conclude its work on the periodic review. By December 2008, Network Rail will know its required outputs, revenue requirements and access charges for the period 2009-14.
“We will continue to monitor performance, ensuring Network Rail deliver on its obligations of a safe and efficient railway, and take firm and appropriate action where necessary.
“As the safety authority for the railways in Britain, another priority is the improvement in health and safety across the industry. We will use our enforcement powers on any duty-holder who fails to comply with health and safety legislation.
“ORR will continue to work with industry, as effective partnerships are the foundation to deliver improved safety, performance and efficiency targets.
“We will also continue in our role as the integrated safety and economic regulator for the rail industry with our aim of applying independent, fair and effective regulation to enable the railway to be safe, well maintained and efficient, and to ensure that it provides value for money for users and its funders”.
Notes to editors
- The business plan 2008-09 is available on our website at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/359.pdf
- The business plan 2008-09 is in the final year of our current corporate strategy (2006-09). Our corporate strategy is available on our website http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.6686
- ORR consulted stakeholders and asked for their views on our proposed priorities for 2008-09. A copy of the consultation letter is available on our website http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/bp-business_plan_2008-09_cnsult.pdf. We have taken stakeholder views into account in the development of this plan.
- We are a non-ministerial government department funded by the railway industry that we regulate. Our budget for the delivery of the business plan totals £31.2m.
- ORR is developing and will be consulting the industry and stakeholders on a new corporate strategy (2009-14). We plan to launch the new strategy in December 2008.
Press enquiries
ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2188/2007
