Independent reporters provide professional advice to the ORR on the quality of Network Rail's service provision, as specified in its licence.
Network Rail's network licence includes a condition providing for ORR to require the network operator (Network Rail), to engage and cooperate with independent reporters appointed in line with the licence obligations.
Independent reporters assess Network Rail's performance across a range of functions including asset management and operational delivery, programme and project management and data quality. They may also be called on to provide assessment of Network Rail’s compliance with its wider network licence obligations.
Appointed reporters
The current framework runs until January 2030. Eight reporters were appointed to the framework in January 2025.
- Gutteridge Haskins & Davey
- Ove Arup
- Arcadis
- Jacobs
- Currie Brown
- Gardiner Theobald
- Costain
- Cambridge Economic Policy Associates
Topics covered
The reporters were appointed to five different lots covering:
- analytical support
- programme, project and cost management
- asset management and environmental matters
- railway operations and performance management
- efficiency and financial reporting
Each lot comprises at least 2 reporters and some are appointed to more than one lot.
All the independent reporter reviews completed under this framework for control period 7 (CP7 covers from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2029) will be available on this webpage.
Earlier independent reporter reviews
Reports for earlier reviews are available under: