Last month, we met with stakeholders across the county to discuss our plans for the next twelve months. Thank you to all those who participated in workshops in London, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester. Feedback from those sessions is being fed into our business plan for 2018/19, which we will publish in early April.
Our periodic review of Network Rail has made good progress this month; the latest stage of our engagement over the last two years – which to date has accounted for more than 140 meetings with industry – was to seek views on Network Rail’s Strategic Business Plan (SBP). We sought views on both the plan itself, and are currently gathering stakeholders’ feedback on Network Rail’s approach to engaging on its SBP.
We have concluded the initial stage of our periodic review of HS1. Following consultation on our approach to the review, HS1 will draw up a plan to respond to the timetable for delivering the review.
Both of these reviews are built around ORR’s approach to regulation; engaging closely with industry, setting clear expectations and then reporting transparently on progress.
Joanna Whittington
Chief Executive
Top stories
Safety update
The safety of everyone who travels or works on the railway is a key priority for ORR. ORR’s Director of Rail Safety, Ian Prosser, updates on how ORR is working with industry to address recommendations following the Croydon tram accident, and we've also produced videos giving real stories of how good occupational health practice can help prevent life-limiting conditions.
Consumer rights
ORR protects the interests of rail passengers, now and future. We have worked with industry to make passenger’s consumer rights clearer, and are requiring all train companies to join a new rail ombudsman. At the same time, we are working with train companies and network rail to ensure that they meet their obligations to give passengers proper notice of future timetables.
Route devolution
Network Rail is changing, devolving decision to its routes. ORR’s Director of Railway Markets and Economics, John Larkinson, explains how we are evolving our regulation to get the best outcomes for the people who use the rail network by supporting better value for money.