{"id":148816,"date":"2024-09-26T19:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=522c280cdd9473232959d1818ee8a6e9"},"modified":"2024-09-26T19:45:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T09:45:00","slug":"improved-reliability-for-rail-passengers-in-wales-and-western-england-following-regulator-intervention-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=148816","title":{"rendered":"Improved reliability for rail passengers in Wales and Western England following regulator intervention"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden\">Improved reliability for rail passengers in Wales and Western England following regulator intervention <\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden\"><time datetime=\"2024-09-26T09:45:00+00:00\" title=\"Thursday, 26 September, 2024 - 09:45\" class=\"datetime\">Thu, 26\/09\/2024 &#8211; 09:45<\/time><br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"orr-published-date\">26 September 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-standfirst field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item\">A comprehensive plan to address the underlying issues causing poor train reliability and punctuality in Wales &amp; Western England, including some of the UK\u2019s busiest train routes into and out of London Paddington, has been accepted by The Office of Rail and Road (ORR). <\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-cover-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Cover Image<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<article class=\"media media--type-image media--view-mode-demo-cover\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Image<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/demo_cover\/public\/2022-12\/open-access-decision-news-cover.jpg?itok=uL46yPBi\" width=\"1020\" height=\"575\" alt=\"Railway track\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"image-style-demo-cover\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Body<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-components field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Components<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>Network Rail has responded well to the regulator\u2019s investigation into poor train performance in its Wales &amp; Western region, which had found that Network Rail was not doing all it reasonably could to improve performance for passengers and freight.<\/p>\n<p>Network Rail\u2019s original proposals to improve performance, including its Thames Valley performance improvement plan, did not have sufficient detail, timelines or breadth to deliver sustained improvements across the whole of Wales &amp; Western, so ORR required Network Rail to prepare a more robust plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Network Rail, and the Wales &amp; Western region led by Rob Cairns, responded positively and proactively, drafting a comprehensive plan for performance which has now been accepted by the regulator.<\/p>\n<p>ORR will closely monitor the delivery of the plan. Ninety percent of actions are scheduled to be completed by 2026, with many, including conducting exercises to improve the response to stranded trains and changing the region\u2019s governance for greater focus on train punctuality and reliability, to be implemented before the end of the year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The plan includes nearly 60 individual actions and covers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improving the timetable to be more resilient<\/li>\n<li>Improving the forecasting of extreme weather events<\/li>\n<li>Investing in asset reliability and performance<\/li>\n<li>Investing in people, including improving performance leadership, behaviours and accountability&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Improved learning and insight from past and future disruption events<\/li>\n<li>Increased collaboration between industry bodies, including train operators<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Feras Alshaker, Director, Performance and Planning at ORR, said:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"styling-options--alignment--left pull-quote-size--big paragraph paragraph--type--pull-quote paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"pull-quote-container\">\n<div class=\"pull-quote-text\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p>We are pleased with the detailed work Network Rail has done to create a clear, workable plan that should sort out the underlying issues and deliver sustained improvement for passengers &#8211;&nbsp;passenger train performance in the Wales &amp; Western region has been letting customers down for too long.<\/p>\n<p>We pushed for this plan to be comprehensive and region-wide, and it is. We will be watching to make sure Network Rail delivers on its promises to passengers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<h2>Notes to editor<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Wales &amp; Western investigation:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>While train performance has largely stabilised across Great Britain following disruption caused by COVID-19, it continued to deteriorate in Network Rail\u2019s Wales &amp; Western region.<\/li>\n<li>ORR launched an investigation, and subsequently determined that Network Rail had not done all it reasonably could have to improve performance in the region, in particular following the introduction of the Elizabeth Line and other infrastructure changes.<\/li>\n<li>ORR concluded its investigation and issued a \u2018final order\u2019. This required Network Rail to create a robust, evidenced and timebound plan by 31 August 2024 to address performance in the region, or face a \u00a33m fine.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--related-documents paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"field__label\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden page__related page__related--documents field__item\">\n<h2>Downloads<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-related-document field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden page__related page__related--documents field__items doc__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item single-document\">\n<article class=\"file-type--pdf media media--type-document media--view-mode-related-item\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<div class=\"related-document-link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-09\/wales-and-western-investigation-letter-2024-09-26.pdf\"  class=\"media-link\" title=\"ORR&#039;s assessment of Network Rail&#039;s plan to improve train performance in Wales &amp; Western region: letter dated 26 September 2024 (pdf 151.55 KB)\" aria-label=\"ORR&#039;s assessment of Network Rail&#039;s plan to improve train performance in Wales &amp; Western region: letter dated 26 September 2024\">ORR&#039;s assessment of Network Rail&#039;s plan to improve train performance in Wales &amp; Western region: letter dated 26 September 2024 (pdf 151.55 KB)<\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"orr-published-date\">Published 26 September 2024<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-media-document field--type-file field--label-visually_hidden\">\n<div class=\"field__label visually-hidden\">Document<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"js-form-item form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-no-label\">\n        PDF 151.55 KB\n        <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"more-info-item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/media\/26162\" class=\"more-info-link media-link\" title=\"More info\" aria-label=\"More info on ORR&#039;s assessment of Network Rail&#039;s plan to improve train performance in Wales &amp; Western region: letter dated 26 September 2024\">More info<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"download-item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/media\/26162\/download\" class=\"download-link media-link media-download-link\" title=\"Download\" aria-label=\"Download ORR&#039;s assessment of Network Rail&#039;s plan to improve train performance in Wales &amp; Western region: letter dated 26 September 2024\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-contain\">\n          <button class=\"document-related__btn\" aria-label=\"show more documents\">Show more<\/button>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-related-links field--type-link field--label-above page__related page__related--links\">\n<div class=\"field__label\">Related links<\/div>\n<div class=\"field__items\">\n<div class=\"field__item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.orr.gov.uk\/monitoring-regulation\/rail\/investigations\/wales-western\">ORR investigation of Network Rail\u2019s Wales &amp; Western region\u2019s compliance with th\u2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improved reliability for rail passengers in Wales and Western England following regulator intervention<br \/>\nThu, 26\/09\/2024 &#8211; 09:45<\/p>\n<p>26 September 2024<\/p>\n<p>            A comprehensive plan to address the underlying issues causing poor train reliability and pun&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-148816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=148816"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148918,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148816\/revisions\/148918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=148816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=148816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=148816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}