Transport Secretary appoints interim Chair of Office of Rail and Road

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today, Thursday 17 December 2015, announced the appointment of Professor Stephen Glaister CBE FICE FTRF FCGI as the Chair of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) for a 12-month term.

Professor Glaister will replace the current chair, Anna Walker, when she steps down as planned at the end of this month after more than 6 years in the role. He will be responsible for leading the independent regulator as it continues its vital role in holding Network Rail and Highways England to account, and ensuring safety and efficiency.

The Transport Secretary has chosen to appoint a chair for an interim period of 12 months while work continues on a government project looking at the future role and responsibilities of the ORR, following the recommendations of an independent report by Dame Colette Bowe earlier this year. This work is being carried out in parallel with Nicola Shaw^s report on the longer term shape and financing of Network Rail, which is due to conclude next year.

Much more about the reasons for this appointment, the history, and the Professor's background at

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-appoints-interim-chair-of-office-of-rail-and-road

[Lee]

Interesting that a man well-known for his view that "unprofitable branch lines" should shut is now the Chair of the organisation which decides whether or not to ratify closure proposals...

[Tim]

He is very pro roads.  I seem to recall that some of his pronouncements on behalf of the RAC (I think he has previously employed by their lobbying wing) were rather "Clarkson" if you know what I mean. 

[Red Squirrel]

He is very pro roads.  I seem to recall that some of his pronouncements on behalf of the RAC (I think he has previously employed by their lobbying wing) were rather "Clarkson" if you know what I mean. 

He is a past Director of the RAC foundation.

[paul7575]

As chairman of the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT^▸ ('as far as I can tell').

Paul

[grahame]

As chairman of the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT^▸ ('as far as I can tell').

Paul

His comments from the government release:

I am honoured to be leading ORR as chair at this time of both rejuvenation and enhancement for rail and road, working with ORR^s expert staff ^ all of whom are committed to serving the public interest.

The UK^▸ (United Kingdom) transport sector continues to expand, demanding a stable, secure and well-governed regime to enable it to provide adequately for the needs of a growing economy. This includes strong and independent economic and safety regulation which protects the interests of investors, taxpayers and users ^ not least, the travelling public. ORR will continue to be dedicated to this task.

Our transport and infrastructure sectors are recognised as important. But they are complex and ever-changing. They naturally undergo reviews of how their institutions work effectively. ORR welcomes the review of the longer-term future shape and financing of Network Rail and the separate review of ORR^s future role. We will make a positive contribution in helping both reviews arrive at a successful conclusion.

I have highlighted two pieces of interesting text which no doubt were very carefully written - the first of which may hint at priorities, and the second which tells us that the ORR's role and responsibilities may differ come 2017 

[ChrisB]

....or even may pass to a new organisation

[Lee]

As chairman of the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT^▸ ('as far as I can tell').

Paul

It has been since the mid-2000s - I should know as I spent much of my time in those days fighting the introduction of the new closure guidance, as grahame and others will no doubt verify!

[paul7575]

As chairman of the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT^▸ ('as far as I can tell').

It has been since the mid-2000s - I should know as I spent much of my time in those days fighting the introduction of the new closure guidance, as grahame and others will no doubt verify!

I phrased that badly, what I probably meant to say is that they do not propose closures or re-openings?

Paul

[Lee]

That would be accurate, Paul.

[grahame]

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin reappoints Stephen Glaister as chair of the Office of Rail and Road until December 2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stephen-glaister-reappointed-as-chair-of-the-orr

[Lee]

In a development that obviously pains me greatly, Stephen Glaister is stepping down, and likely to be replaced by Declan Collier - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/orr-chair-announced-declan-collier

Unlike his soon-to-be predecessor whose Beeching-esque tendancies are well-known, Collier has recently advocated the opening/reopening of a railway station - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-12/london-city-airport-chief-s-parting-plea-right-crossrail-wrong

[Oberon]

I often think things can't get any worse

Silly me...