The rail regulator made eight recommendations in its letter to industry, following a review of the joint performance strategies produced by train operating companies (TOCs) in partnership with Network Rail.
ORR decided to conduct the review earlier this year, in light of network challenges on punctuality and reliability. As an independent body, the regulator is well placed to provide a balanced view across the TOCs and Network Rail in this way.
Network Rail’s routes agree joint performance strategies with most train companies annually, and these strategies are a key part of the Performance Improvement Management System (PIMS) which provides guidelines on how to strengthen the planning and delivery of improved train performance.
ORR found that the overall quality of the 19 strategies had improved since it undertook an informal review in 2021, and each of the strategies showed a good understanding of current performance issues and risks.
The regulator also made recommendations, shared with industry, which it expects to be implemented and in turn lead to a collective improvement in performance on the rail network.
These include:
- reassessing whether open access and freight operators – who are not currently part of this process - should produce joint performance strategies with Network Rail
- better discipline in timely completion of the strategies, following delays in the process for some
- development and adoption of consistent leading indicators – factors that predict later outcomes and allow early action - for sharing across industry
- sharing better ways to measure the effects of improvement projects, between companies
Feras Alshaker, ORR’s director of planning and performance:
Notes to Editors
- ORR is the independent economic and safety regulator for the railways in Great Britain, and the monitor of performance and efficiency for England’s motorways and trunk roads.