ORR takes formal action to improve NR performance
THE Office of Rail and Road issued a Provisional Order to Network Rail on November 29, after it claimed the infrastructure manager is contravening Licence Condition 1 - Network Management.
The announcement was made at the same time as publication of Network Rail Monitor, which showed that punctuality and reliability are at their lowest levels since the current Control Period began in 2014, with extreme weather and problems in implementing the May 2018 timetable change contributing to the poor performance. Other issues identified are industrial disputes affecting some train operators, and problems in resourcing train crews in some areas.
The Provisional Order requires NR and its Route Managing Directors to “step up engagement and work with train operators”, to review and develop actions to address the underlying causes to problems identified in recent independent reviews, and report to the ORR by February 15 2019 on how it is identifying the common underlying issues relating to performance planning and its capability to recover service from incidents on the network. The report must address how NR is implementing the conclusions of its report.
NR must also provide the ORR with regular updates on progress in delivering its report, including any interim findings and representations regarding the extent to which it is “doing everything reasonably practicable to meet its obligations in Condition 1 in relation to its performance management capability”.
Should the ORR be satisfied that NR is complying with the Licence Condition, the provisional order will ‘fall away’. But if it believes NR is still contravening it after February 15, the regulator will consider formally confirming the order.
There was better news regarding NR’s preparedness for Control Period 6, which starts in April 2019.
ORR says the company is “in a better position than it was at this point five years ago to deliver the volumes of work required and improve efficiency”. It also says NR has made progress in establishing a more efficient work planning system, secured better access to the network for engineering works, and recruited more maintenance staff.
However, ORR warns: “NR’s plans to make efficiency savings are less advanced than they need to be, and there is more to do in the four months before Control Period 6 starts.” ORR will report on its progress again in March 2019.
ORR Chief Executive John Larkinson said: “Today’s decision is a clear demonstration of ORR’s approach to how we will hold Network Rail to account.
“Passengers and freight customers rely on Network Rail for punctual and reliable train services, and the evidence we have collected suggests to us that Network Rail is failing to take all reasonable steps to effectively manage performance and recover from incidents on its network. This is a capability issue which must be addressed urgently.
“We need to act now, rather than wait for the end of the financial year, to ensure Network Rail is ready for the start of the next Control Period (CP6) on April 1 2019.”