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Office of Rail and Road Update - July 2018

25 July 2018
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Joanna WhittingtonWe have this month published our four annual documents on the performance of the companies we regulate. This includes the Network Rail Monitor, setting out how we think Network Rail is doing in delivering its obligations to its customers and funders, and our annual performance report on Highways England. We have also published Measuring Up, our annual rail consumer report showing how the rail industry is delivering for passengers, and our annual report on health and safety performance on Britain’s railways in 2017-18.

We also publish reports and updates on work we undertake to investigate issues which arise throughout the year. Earlier this month we published a report looking at Network Rail Wessex Route’s performance delivery to South Western Railway services. We have also set out our concerns relating to the proposed merger of Siemens and Alstom about which the European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation. We consider that the merger would have a significantly detrimental impact on competition in important British rail markets, in particular signalling and rolling stock.

Joanna Whittington

Chief Executive


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ORR's reports on rail and road performance

Each year, our Network Rail Monitor sets out our regulatory view of how Network Rail and the wider rail industry have performed. This year our reports for England and Wales and for Scotland highlighted the need for Network Rail to do more to prepare for its £34bn plan for the next control period, starting in April next year.

ORR also conducted an investigation into how Network Rail had contributed to the problems faced on South Western Railways, following unacceptable disruption faced by passengers on the route. The investigation found that the company needs to improve its planning, procedures and technology to keep pace with changes on the route.

On the roads, our Annual Assessment of Highways England set out our view that the company’s progress remains steady, but that it needs to continue managing costs. Our Deputy Director for Highways Richard Coates blogs on the key points in the report.

Our consumer team published Measuring Up, our annual report on how the railway is delivering for passengers. Our Deputy Director for Consumers, Stephanie Tobyn, explains that although there has been real progress, there are areas where the industry still needs to improve.

And on safety, our Annual Report on Health and Safety performance highlights our view that while the railway remains safe, there is a need for the industry to focus on supporting its staff to ensure  passengers continue to travel safely in coming years. Just this month, following an ORR investigation, Kier Infrastructure was given a significant fine following an incident in August 2016.

Siemens-Alstom merger

Following an announcement of an in-depth investigation into the proposed merger of Siemens and Alstom, ORR has published an update on its concerns that the merger could significantly increase costs to Britain's railways due to a decrease in competition in the market to supply signalling and rolling stock.

Timetable Inquiry - Advisory Panel

Stephen Glaister

ORR’s independent inquiry into the implementation of new rail timetables in May 2018 continues. An expert panel has been appointed to advise the inquiry as it collects evidence from organisations and passengers. It will also ensure that the ORR’s own role is properly assessed by the inquiry.

PR18 - Consultation on Draft Determination

Railway trackORR has been engaging with stakeholders across the country as part of our consultation on our draft determination on PR18. As well as regional events in Leeds, Cardiff and London, our chief executive Joanna Whittington spoke at two industry events. Her presentation from these events can be found here. The consultation ends on 31 August.