FEATURE: RICHARD PRICE
It put the cost of
running and expanding our railways at around £37.5billion... To put that into context, that’s the cost of around five London 2012 Olympics.
One million
more trains run every year than ten years ago.
The punctuality of passenger services has improved, with around nine in ten trains running on time today.
Maintaining focus on the ‘day job’
On efficiency – the
company has proposed to achieve efficiencies of around 18% by 2019.
...reconnecting the border towns of Scotland with Edinburgh by reopening 31 miles of track, and electrifying the Cardiff Valley lines.
Network Rail’s
successful delivery of £15billion efficiency savings since 2004-2005.
While getting the 2014-2019 plan right is important, Network Rail must not lose sight that it has been funded to run and improve the rail infrastructure for its current operating period, from 2009-2014. Network Rail has played a critical role in the railways’ recent successes. However, we do have concerns about the company’s progress in meeting some of its current targets, particularly for the punctuality of long distance passenger services. Failure to meet current funded targets would not only represent a serious breach of the company’s licence, but would also mean there was catching- up to do from 2014 when the new plan and funding kicks in. We are keeping pressure up on the company to deliver what it promised.
For ORR, it is not only about ‘what’ the rail industry must deliver, but ‘how’ it delivers. Greater transparency is key. Customers and taxpayers should be able to see and understand where their money is going and what they are getting for it. Success depends on a whole-industry approach with Network Rail working in partnership with train and freight operators and suppliers and engaged with local communities to deliver better results. At the end of the day, customers want a seamless service and care less about who delivers what bit.
...last year 1.5billion passengers used the railways, which is an 8% increase on the previous year.
Our analysis, informed by public views, will focus on ensuring Network Rail delivers the right plans, in the right ways, at the right cost. ORR publishes its draft determination June 2013. For more information, and to have your say, visit:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13/.
WWW.THECONNECTSERIES.CO.UK
RailCONNECT
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