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East Coast Main Line - lessons learned review

In February 2010 we issued directions on three applications and approved a fourth granting three passenger train operators - East Coast, Grand Central and Hull Trains - the rights to operate additional and/or amended services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). This was the culmination of two years work, the details of which can be found on the "East Coast Main Line capacity assessment and competing applications" page.

We decided to carry out a review into the process because, whilst the industry was well aware that difficulties were encountered at various stages along the way, we believe that, overall, the process took too long. If we are to learn from this we need to look constructively at the whole process, including ORR’s own areas of responsibility, in order to establish:

  • what went well;
  • what went less well;
  • how the process could be improved in future; and
  • what the industry could have done differently, with the benefit of hindsight.

We issued our report on 20 August 2010 and this, together with our letter of 5 March 2010 and written responses, follow. With Network Rail and other industry stakeholders we are now addressing the various issues identified in the report, and subsequent documentation will be added as it becomes available.

Our letter to the industry

Responses received

Our report

Last updated: March 2011