Delivery of renewal and enhancement works by Network Rail is less efficient than it was three years ago while train performance continues to decline, the Office of Rail & Road has said this week.

 

The ORR says it remains concerned about Network Rail’s overall capability to plan and deliver enhancements, highlighting that the company is carrying out its core work 5% less efficiently than at the start of Control Period 5.

 

Meanwhile the ORR’s latest annual review of Network Rail’s performance shows that 87.4% of trains in England and Wales arrived on time in 2016-17 – down from 88.9% in the preceding 12 month period. Performance this year has been adversely affected by industrial action impacting train operators, particularly Southern, the report points out.

 

“Network Rail’s performance over 2016-17 has been mixed,” said ORR’s chief executive Joanna Whittington. “The railway continued to be safe and the reliability of some assets has increased. However, these benefits have been overshadowed by continued inefficiency and poor train performance.”

 

The report says that Network Rail is under increasing financial pressure and that, to remain within its budget, the organisation has deferred some renewal works from the current Control Period 5 into the next five year spending period. This is expected to cause deterioration in the overall condition of the network by the end of CP5 and impact on Network Rail’s supply chain, the ORR says.

 

In Scotland it is reported that Network Rail is carrying out its core business 11.2% more efficiently than at the start of the current funding period. But its financial performance, including enhancements, remains poor. For example the report points to major over running and over spending on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line electrification project.

 

Despite the failures highlighted by the ORR user watchdog Transport Focus reports this week that overall satisfaction among rail passengers has increased by 3% to 83% since last year.

 

“The figures for Southern in particular show a significant recovery in passengers’ experience,” commented the group’s chief executive Anthony Smith.

 

But he added: “This recovery will be under pressure from upgrade works, industrial relationship problems and rising passenger numbers. So the industry needs to keep a relentless, on going focus on performance and reliability.”

 

Network Rail also published its own annual report last week. Company chair Sir Peter Hendy commented: “Extraordinary growth in passenger numbers means the network is now full in many areas, and this congestion inevitably increases delays when anything goes wrong. It has also meant we have less access than ever before to make essential improvements.

 

“We are leading the way the whole rail industry operates in the years ahead, by both embracing new technologies and working ever more closely together to deliver the most effective and efficient outcomes for passengers. But there is much more to do to deliver the affordable and reliable railway our country needs.”

 

(Photo: Network Rail)