The regulator also highlights the need for improvements to track worker safety and to catch-up on assessing the condition of structures, such as bridges in the region.
Network Rail’s North West and Central region, which is the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe, showed improvement in passenger train service punctuality and reliability in 2020-21, and while freight performance varied throughout the year, it still met its yearly target. This was largely due to lower passenger numbers and train service levels. Though train performance has been good, there is a clear risk that performance will drop as passengers and services return. Network Rail needs to work cross-industry to retain performance improvements where possible.
Last year, following poor train performance in North West and Central, ORR carried out a review in the region and made 25 recommendations. A year on, the regulator found that the region had identified the main causes of poor performance and had started to develop remedial action plans. While overall, North West and Central made good progress against the majority of the ORR’s recommendations, six recommendations remain incomplete (two relating to operations and four on asset management). As a result, the region remains under enhanced ORR monitoring and assessment for a further six months.
The region had mixed health and safety results during 2020-21. Following an increase in days lost to injury, the region has implemented an enhanced safety improvement programme. But there is still much work to do, underlined by the tragic death of a track worker last year at Ashton Cutting, Roade, in Northamptonshire. ORR is currently undertaking an investigation into the event and will report on the outcome in due course.
ORR’s annual assessment recognises the good work Network Rail’s North West and Central region has done in successfully delivering on a number of projects to counteract severe weather events.
Additionally, a platform extension at Wigan North Western station has been completed to provide extra capacity for passengers and the region has also delivered a number of upgrades at Tring, Mills Hill, Kidsgrove and Macclesfield to make these stations more accessible for all passengers.
The regulator is concerned that across all of Network Rail’s regions, including North West and Central, it is behind on its process for inspecting its structures (e.g. bridges and tunnels). These are important in understanding the condition of the asset and whether there are any faults. At the end of 2020-21, 44% of the region’s structures had incomplete examinations of their condition and there is limited evidence that Network Rail has suitable plans in place or is making adequate progress towards completing its structures examinations. ORR is taking action to ensure this is rectified.
Rebecca Kent, ORR’s Senior Regulation Manager for the North West and Central region said:
Notes to editors
- Network Rail’s North West & Central region runs from London Euston and Marylebone in the south to Gretna near the Scotland/ England border. This chapter focuses on Network Rail’s delivery in the region’s three routes of North West, Central and West Coast Mainline South, which is the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe.
- ORR’s May 2020 Performance Review
- Network Rail Annual Assessment: https://www.orr.gov.uk/media/22598
- Annual Report of Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways: https://www.orr.gov.uk/media/22601
- The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) holds Network Rail to account for its management of the GB rail network, monitoring how it operates the network to keep trains running on time, and how it keeps the network safe and in good condition.