{"id":190202,"date":"2025-03-05T01:40:56","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=679802331be3160ab27598e23feb47b2"},"modified":"2025-03-05T01:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:40:56","slug":"office-of-rail-and-road-march-2025-newsletter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=190202","title":{"rendered":"Office of Rail and Road March 2025 newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Office of Rail and Road March 2025 newsletter<\/span>
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Hello and welcome to March’s newsletter<\/h2>\n

As many of you will know, last month we saw a step forward in the Government\u2019s rail reform agenda with the publication of their consultation: \u201cA railway fit for Britain\u2019s future\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We have engaged with Government throughout the reform process and will continue to do so through the consultation period, offering advice on the future regime, bringing to bear our three decades of experience and expertise in independent rail regulation.  With the Government\u2019s broad proposals now public, we are keen to discuss the detail, and the likely changes, with all those across industry who may be affected by them. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing many of you at events in the coming month where we can have these discussions.  We are of course also pursuing our day job and have been focusing on the revenue protection review investigation we were asked to lead by the Secretary of State for Transport.<\/p>\n

February also brought the conclusion of much work on two court cases after tragic worker deaths. And our safety teams worked closely with our performance teams in writing to Network Rail on concerns with the process of their structures examinations.  <\/p>\n

Finally, work is now under way compiling our rail reports, which we will present to stakeholders at an event in July.  Look out for details in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

John Larkinson<\/strong>
Chief Executive Officer<\/p>\n

Top stories<\/h2>\n

Network Rail fined \u00a33.75m and \u00a33.41m following track worker deaths in Margam, South Wales and Surbiton, London<\/h3>\n

Network Rail has been fined \u00a33.75 million and ordered to pay costs of \u00a3175,000<\/a> after pleading guilty to an offence where it failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees, in respect of the risks from trains to people at work on or near the line, following an investigation and prosecution by ORR.  Two track workers were fatally injured and a third narrowly escaped death in the incident at Margam, South Wales in 2019.<\/p>\n

ORR\u2019s investigation found systematic and wide-ranging safety failures by Network Rail in its measures to protect those working on or near the line from trains, resulting from inadequacies in its processes and management systems.<\/p>\n

Since the accident there has been a step change in the way that the rail industry manages track worker safety, with Network Rail almost entirely ending working when trains remain running during track work and employing new technologies to reduce the risk of harm. However, further incidents that resulted in worker fatalities near Roade in 2020 and Surbiton in 2021 (please see below) and reports of near misses means Network Rail and the industry must remain committed in its focus on track worker safety.<\/p>\n

Network Rail also pleaded guilty and has been subsequently fined \u00a33.41 million<\/a> for a similar offence relating to the death of a track worker who was struck, and fatally injured, by a passenger train in Surbiton in 2021. ORR\u2019s investigation identified failings with the planning, monitoring and supervision to ensure the workers were adequately protected while carrying out their maintenance activities on the track.  <\/p>\n

Richard Hines, HM Chief Inspector of Railways, said: \u201cOur industry\u2019s track workers play a crucial role in delivering a safe railway for passengers and users of the system, often working in challenging and difficult conditions. It\u2019s essential that they are also protected from harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recording and monitoring Network Rail assets<\/h3>\n

In February we wrote to Network Rail to say that we are not satisfied that the company is doing all that it should to meet its own standards of recording and monitoring all of its assets. Assets include tracks, bridges, tunnels, viaducts, signalling, embankments, and vegetation management, for example. We have set out the steps we expect the company to take and note that Network Rail is taking the matter seriously. Read the letter from ORR Chief Inspector of Railways, Richard Hines and Director of Planning and Performance, Feras Alshaker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rail reform – Bill consultation launched<\/h3>\n

The Government launched the Railways Bill Consultation on 18 February<\/a>. The consultation, which closes at 11.59pm on 15 April 2025, is seeking views on how the new Great British Railways (GBR) body will provide reliable services for passengers across the country and work better for taxpayers. Proposals include:<\/p>\n