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Rail regulator accepts Network Rail’s West Coast plan but warns on delivery

2 May 2008
ORR/12/08

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today announced that Network Rail has complied with the order it made on 28 February. This required the company to produce a plan showing how it would complete the work on the West Coast main line to enable significant timetable improvements. Network Rail must now deliver its revised plan allowing the improvements to be introduced from December 2008.

But the industry regulator warned Network Rail about mitigating the effect of disruption caused by engineering work, and said that it would be closely monitoring delivery of the plan.

Michael Lee, ORR Director of Access Planning and Performance, said: “The West Coast Main line is a key part of the national rail network, linking London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Network Rail’s planned improvements will mean better services for passengers across a wide part of the network from December this year. We have scrutinised this plan, making use of expert independent advice, and considering the views of those who run services, representatives of those who use them, and the government bodies that provide funding.

“It is clear that most people want to see the improvements made this year. Passengers will unfortunately face increased disruption while this work is being done, but will benefit from the new timetables in December 2008. We are very conscious of the adverse impact on rail freight, and Network Rail needs to do all it can to ease the effect of its engineering work on users of the railway.

“It is vital that Network Rail now delivers this plan. We will closely monitor Network Rail’s performance between now and December, ensuring that the new infrastructure operates reliably and is maintained safely.”

Notes to editors

  1. ORR concluded on 28 February that Network Rail was likely to be in breach of Condition 7 of its network licence by failing to deliver the infrastructure improvements on the West Coast Main Line. ORR issued a provisional order requiring it to produce a plan by 31 March 2008. The order is at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/WCRM_2008_orders_s55_prov_order.pdf
  2. A copy of the Report of ORR’s investigation into Network Rail’s management of engineering projects is available at http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/352.pdf
  3. ORR will set out the reasons for its decision next week on its website.
  4. ORR reports on progress in the delivery of the West Coast Route Modernisation project in the quarterly Network Rail Monitor. The next edition is due to be published in June.

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