ORR demands better planning of engineering possessions

“Improved planning, monitoring and delivery of possessions is essential in not only reducing disruption to passengers, but also in reducing costs.”

That’s the conclusion of Office of Rail and Road Chief Executive John Larkinson, following the publication of an independent review (commissioned by the regulator) into the efficiency of engineering possessions.

ORR reports that inconsistent processes, missed opportunities to minimise compensation, and “a lack of understanding of the Network Code, access costs and impact of disruption” are all features of Network Rail engineering work.

However, Larkinson says that NR “has responded positively to the review and we have seen progress on a number of initiatives designed to address possession inefficiencies”. 

He added: “It is important now that when these prove successful that they are consistently shared and applied across all of the regions “By the end of 2021, we want to see a clear and time-bound plan with milestones for delivering on our recommendations, and we will closely monitor and track Network Rail’s progress.” 

To read the full story, see RAIL 943.