Welcome to our December newsletter.
In November, we launched a market study into the supply of rail signalling systems. Market studies are an important tool we have under our competition powers for understanding whether or not a market is working effectively.
While this might sound a bit arcane, it really does matter in terms of the public interest. The UK signalling market is substantial: Network Rail spent over £4bn on signalling in the last control period and it expects to significantly ramp up its spend rolling out new digital technology in the coming years. If there are underlying problems in this market, this could cost Network Rail (and ultimately passengers, freight customers and taxpayers) a lot more money, leading to fewer benefits being delivered. Indeed, in 2019, the European Commission (informed by strong representations from ORR) blocked the proposed merger between Siemens and Alstom, noting that it would have led to higher prices, less choice and harmed innovation.
The market study we are now undertaking will enable us to identify whether any market interventions are needed to ensure that Network Rail is able to secure value for rail users and taxpayers when delivering new signalling technology.
Further information on this, including on how to engage in the market study, is available here.
John Larkinson,
Chief Executive
Top stories
ORR rebukes SWR for lack of wheelchair access at Liphook Station
ORR has instructed South Western Railway (SWR) to comply with its legal duty in ensuring that people using wheelchairs can board and alight from trains at Liphook station.
Action was taken after we identified SWR was failing to provide a boarding device (such as a ramp) when required.
ORR initially raised the issue with SWR to allow them to put things right, but SWR did not put in place clear time bound plans to address matters.
As such, ORR issued a formal Improvement notice to SWR on 14 October 2020, requiring the necessary arrangements to be put in place by May 2021 (This timescale acknowledges that the three options for compliance may take some time, particularly while COVID-19 controls affect resourcing levels. Further information on this is available here).
£10,000 fine following ORR investigation after train ran across storm damaged viaduct
Following an investigation by ORR, Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has prosecuted Network Rail for allowing trains to travel at more than 100mph over a badly storm damaged viaduct.
Network Rail has now been fined £10,000 for the safety breach, by Lanark Sheriff Court, after pleading guilty to an offence under health and safety law.
Lamington Viaduct in South Lanarkshire was badly damaged after severe storms in late 2015. Network Rail allowed several trains to cross the viaduct before realising it had been damaged, when a driver noticed large track movements. The line was eventually closed for seven weeks for major repair works. A derailment could have caused multiple fatalities or injuries.
Blogs
Working to ensure all passengers’ needs are met – Claire Clark, Senior Executive Officer, Consumer Policy takes a look at progress since the introduction of ORR’s Accessible Travel Policy, which is designed to help ensure all passengers can request and receive assistance to travel safely with confidence and ease.
Did you know? A passenger rolling stock perspective – Lucy Charlton, Senior Analyst at ORR, explores the age of the different trains in use across the network.
Rail industry commits to new equality diversity & inclusion charter – Juliet Lazarus, ORR General Counsel and Director of Competition and also ORR’s Diversity Champion heralds the rail industry’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter, which ORR was pleased to sign up to recently.
Keeping on track with cyber security – Paul Appleton, Deputy Director Railway Safety and HM Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways, explains how cyber security is crucial to the rail network and what work is going on regarding this.
Monitoring Road Safety – Ian Ritchie, Performance Analyst, Roads, discusses how Highways England are performing on road safety.
Improving the Human: Data Interface within ORR – Howard Taylor, Senior Engineer, Civil Engineering informs on the new interface he’s used to pull together different datasets to better inform ORR’s work.
Making ROGS work for Industry – Paul Carey, Railway Safety Senior Policy Executive, introduces the survey that ORR is carrying out into the rail industry’s experience with the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS).
Consultations
Revision of ORR guidance on application of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 to Mark 1 type and hinged door rolling stock.
Closes 11th December
Stakeholder survey about the impact and effectiveness of the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS).
Closes 18th January 2021
Statistical releases
This month we have published: