Regulator calls for Network Rail to do more to prepare ahead of its five year plan

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today published its annual assessment into Network Rail's performance in Scotland, which shows that more needs to be done to prepare for its five year plan (Control Period 6), which starts on 1 April 2019.

ORR’s annual review of Network Rail for 2017/18 shows that:

• Planning for Control Period 6 is in its early stages and Network Rail has more to do including booking network access for planned work. We will continue to monitor the preparedness of the Scotland route and will provide an update in our November Monitor.
• The delivery of enhancement projects in Scotland has improved significantly. Network Rail has demonstrated positive change to ongoing project management following a review into how the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow was delivered over a year late and over budget.
• Train performance declined, with 89.5% of trains in Scotland arriving on time (compared to 90.4% in 2016-17);
• Overall reliability of the network reduced following a rise in the number of infrastructure-related failures;
• Network Rail Scotland continues to deliver a safe railway with track safety continuing to improve. Level crossing safety also showed modest improvement and while track worker safety remains well controlled, ORR recommend further work to strengthen track worker protection.

Following a period of improvement, Network Rail Scotland has seen a decline in performance that resulted in failure to meet the year-end regulatory target of 92% of trains arriving on time. Although there are a number of contributing external factors such as the period of adverse weather, 56% of ScotRail and 48% of Caledonian Sleeper delay minutes were attributed to Network Rail (4 and 10 percentage points respectively more than at the end of 2016-17). A recent independent review of train performance in Scotland generated a series of recommendations for action by Network Rail and it is amending its performance improvement plan to incorporate these. ORR is supportive of these plans and will continue to monitor regularly to ensure performance improves.

Joanna Whittington, ORR’s Chief Executive, said:

"Our assessment shows that enhancement performance has improved, but more need to be done on train service performance.”

"Network Rail’s route plans for the next five years are an opportunity for a step change in efficient delivery, but that can only happen if all the routes are prepared to hit the ground running from day one. At the moment it is clear more needs to be done to ensure this is the case."