UK’s Rail Delivery Group calls for independent rail body

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Railway Technology

British rail industry trade body Rail Delivery Group has called for the establishment of an organisation to regulate railway operations.

Addressing the Accelerate Rail conference in London, Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer advocated that the new body will help to increase accountability and facilitate a collaborative approach to decisions about the railway.

Furthermore, it will enable infrastructure manager Network Rail and other train companies to focus on innovation and improve railway services.

Plummer said: “Our vision for a new arms-length body for the railway in England & Wales must be different to what has gone before.

“If done right, it would swiftly become a trusted and respected player in the field.”
“Unlike previous attempts, it should have real autonomy and real powers. It should have the best people and leadership. If done right, it would swiftly become a trusted and respected player in the field.”

The new body will be entrusted with the task of devising proper strategies, objectives and targets to deliver a better railway service. It will also ensure that the whole network functions as a single unit with aligned decisions and targets.

According to Rail Delivery Group, the formation of an organisation will help politicians shift their focus from day-to-day activities to broader planning, as well as help railways contribute to communities and the country.

In his speech, Plummer said that often the ‘lines of accountability are blurred’ with ‘too many bodies’. He added that some of the bodies have conflicting remits and competing agendas which dilute the scope of their individual responsibilities.

Plummer stated: “So that’s why we are calling for a new arms-length organising body to implement national rail policy, and prevent the railway being used as a political football.”

How does this relate to the Williams Review?   Where does the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) fit into this??

[Lee]

Originally trailled on the forum here.

[ChrisB]

ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has submitted this to the Williams Review.

Basically, a new Strategic Rail Authority - but at a distance from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

[stuving]

ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has submitted this to the Williams Review.

Basically, a new Strategic Rail Authority - but at a distance from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

You meant RDG^‡(resolve), didn't you?

Some reports of Plummer's pitch to this conference on Tuesday include a bit about this new body taking over from ORR (rail parts only, one presumes). Otherwise the line about there being "too many bodies" now looks silly. There is an RDG press release of that. Since the consultation phase of the enquiry runs to 30 May, it seems unlikely RDG have put in their final text - Plummer's piece looks more like a kite flown to see how the ideas go down (or up).

Williams addressed the same conference, with the text in DfT's .GOV.UK^▸ (United Kingdom) pages, though without saying anything new, AFAIKS.

[ChrisB]

No, I *really* don't......I meant SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about), Mark II

[grahame]

Originally trailled on the forum here.

Must be pretty busy when I don't even spot an earlier post on the Coffee Shop. I think this must be just about my busiest week for years when I was youngerer and fiterer.

[stuving]

No, I *really* don't......I meant SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about), Mark II

What, really really? So the SRA, Mark II, an imagined rehash of a defunct body, has submitted something to the Williams review? I've no doubt there will be submissions with names like that on them, but they'll be dismissed as not serious.

[ChrisB]

British rail industry trade body Rail Delivery Group has called for the establishment of an organisation to regulate railway operations.

My emphasis - ie the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) Mark II

[grahame]

British rail industry trade body Rail Delivery Group has called for the establishment of an organisation to regulate railway operations.

My emphasis - ie the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) Mark II

Err - "My emphasis - ie the SRA Mark II" are your words not mine - please do not put attribute words I did not write (even though I may have thought them) to me!

[ChrisB]

Apologies, added an extra quote matrk, now removed.