Timetable fallout

Rail Minister blames NR for timetable chaos, saying operator had insufficient time to prepare the new schedules.

Office of Rail and Road has confirmed it will run the inquiry announced by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling on June 4.

In a statement released on June 13, ORR said it would identify factors that contributed to the failure to produce and introduce a “satisfactory operational timetable”, reach conclusions about managing risks created by major network changes, and make recommendations to the industry and government before any future major network changes.

The inquiry will focus on what actually took place when the timetable was introduced, compared with what should have happened. It will concentrate on the evidence of where there were differences, and the underlying causes.

ORR confirmed it will also look at how Network Rail and the operators worked together before and after the timetable’s introduction, NR’s role in delivering network enhancements, the Department for Transport’s own role in planning enhancements and franchises, and the industry’s readiness in preparing for timetable changes.

There will be three phases: evidence-gathering, analysis, and the development of recommendations. ORR said an interim report will be published in September.