Annual Report of Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways
Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
Britain’s rail industry responded extremely well to the Coronavirus pandemic, according to the ORR. The regulator says the entire sector reacted quickly and worked collaboratively to respond to significant challenges posed by the pandemic to keep people and goods on the move.
However, the ORR warns that trackworker safety must remain a top priority following the deaths of three rail employees in 2020-21.
Meanwhile, the fatal derailment at Carmont after heavy rainfall last August also highlights the need for a continued focus on safety management and for Network Rail to effectively manage its infrastructure, with particular focus on earthworks and drainage.
On performance and reliability, the ORR says there has been an improvement of 15 percentage points, as fewer trains and passengers contributed to 80% of trains arriving on time nationally.
It wants NR to use the data it has gathered on the relationship between network usage, capacity and performance, and a ‘whole system approach’ to demonstrate how these activities will lead to actual improvements in punctuality.
Finally, the ORR finds that NR is on track to deliver CP6 efficiency targets, having delivered £710 million worth of savings in 2020-21 against a target of £570m.
However, it warns that risk funds are lower than planned, particularly in Scotland, and that NR now needs a clear plan for how future financial risks will be managed.
