Skip to main content

Skip to main content

Network Rail's accountability

As the owner and operator of the national rail infrastructure, Network Rail has a key role to play in railway safety and improving railway performance and efficiency. It operates, maintains, renews and develops the infrastructure to deliver the outputs that governments (and other funders) wish to buy. Network Rail aims to satisfy the reasonable requirements of its customers and funders so that it meets their needs.

The company is accountable for the management of its network, through contracts with its customers and through compliance with its licences.

The essential features of the manner in which Network Rail meets its obligations, and the delivery of the outputs for which we have set formal requirements through the last periodic review of access charges will be
enforced through Network Rail’s network licence. However, where there are contracts in place we expect contractual remedies to be explored where possible within a reasonable timescale.

Network Rail is also held to account through:

  • the regulatory regime for the railways and health and safety - more information about regulations affecting railways can be found in the section on UK railway legislation;
  • contracts with customers and funders and our approval of those access contracts or direction of third party access - more information can be found in the section on agreements and contracts; 
  • industry-wide codes that establish operational and technical rules and procedures that need to be common for all industry participants;
  • periodic reviews - more information can be found in the periodic review 2008 section; 
  • Joint Performance Improvement Plans (JPIPs) - annual agreements between passenger train operators and Network Rail, detailing how each party will contribute to continuously improving performance;
  • local output commitments - annual agreements between freight operators and Network Rail; and
  • general rules of administrative law which apply when carrying out duties of importance to the public.
Last updated: 26 October 2010

Related documents

Glossary