ORR publishes annual report
26 June 2008
ORR/23/08
The rail industry must respond vigorously and creatively to the challenge of increased demand and improved services, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) Chairman Chris Bolt said today on the publication of the ORR annual report and resource accounts for 2007-08.
The report describes ORR’s activities and achievements during a busy and challenging year as the independent safety and economic regulator of Britain’s railways.
ORR’s key activity is to ensure Network Rail provides an efficient and safe railway infrastructure for its customers and funders, which is fit for purpose now and for the future. Achievements during 2007-08 included:
- reaching significant milestones in the periodic review 2008 which will determine how much money Network Rail needs to efficiently provide the infrastructure for Britain’s railways for the period 2009-14; this work culminated in ORR’s proposed settlement being published for consultation on 5 June.
- in the light of ORR’s investigation into the Grayrigg derailment, ORR issued Network Rail with an improvement notice in respect of its track patrolling work;
- on 28 February 2008, ORR published the results of its urgent investigation into the late notice planned extension of engineering work at Rugby and the major engineering overruns at Rugby and Liverpool Street over the Christmas/new year period; ORR subsequently imposed a fine of £14 million to reflect the serious weaknesses found in Network Rail’s planning and management of projects;
- in its second year as the safety and economic regulator, ORR made best use of the combined intelligence and understanding of the activities taking place on the railways that our joined up duties provide, enabling it to make better decisions than ever before; ORR will continue to capitalise on this as it develops even better ways of working to realise the benefits of its combined powers.
Chris Bolt noted that Network Rail had continued to improve its performance. “We welcome Network Rail’s ambition of being a world class company. But the experience of the last year is that it still has a long way to go to achieve this.
“Our own record in 2007-08 demonstrates the readiness of ORR to take action when necessary to help ensure that the industry delivers a safe, high performing and efficient railway meeting the needs of passengers, freight customers and funders. We are not complacent and know that we too need to respond to the challenge of rising demand and as such continue to review our regulatory approach to ensure it remains fit for purpose.”
Press enquiries
ORR press office – 020 7282 2188/2007
Notes to editors
- The annual report and resource accounts details ORR’s activities during the last accounting year (April 2007 to March 2008). It is available on the website at: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.6693
- ORR also publishes today its railway safety statistical report 2007 providing information on the safety performance of the railway industry last year (January to December 2007). It covers the key safety risks in four sections: incidents involving passengers, staff and members of the public, level crossings, trespass and vandalism, train incidents and rolling stock and infrastructure failures. The report is available on the website at: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.6693
- Hard copies of all documents are also available from the Stationery Office Parliamentary Hotline on 0845 702 3474
