Monitoring and enforcement

The regulatory framework is designed to provide effective incentives, rewarding Network Rail for doing a good job. If necessary, we may enforce compliance with the network licence if Network Rail fails to fulfil its obligations, and we may also impose monetary penalties.

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.

Monitoring

Monitoring Network Rail's performance is a key role for us. We monitor this on a continuous basis - against targets in the most recent access charges review, against obligations in its network licence and against forecasts in its own business plan.

• Network Rail monitor
• Annual assessment of Network Rail
• Underspend and efficiency
• West Coast route modernisation project

Enforcement

Enforcement is one of our key functions, and we shall use our powers firmly but fairly and in a timely manner. This section contains details of how we enforce railway and railway safety legislation.

• Powers of enforcement
• Licence enforcement action taken by ORR to date

Best practice studies

A programme of international fact-finding visits was conducted during the summer and autumn of 2007 to a number of railway administrations in Europe, North America and Australia. This study tour is part of our work on the 2008 Periodic Review, which will determine the regulated outputs and access charges for the five year control period (CP4) between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2014.