Improved reliability for rail passengers in Wales and Western England following regulator intervention

Network Rail has responded well to the regulator’s investigation into poor train performance in its Wales & Western region, which had found that Network Rail was not doing all it reasonably could to improve performance for passengers and freight.

Network Rail’s original proposals to improve performance, including its Thames Valley performance improvement plan, did not have sufficient detail, timelines or breadth to deliver sustained improvements across the whole of Wales & Western, so ORR required Network Rail to prepare a more robust plan. 

Network Rail, and the Wales & Western region led by Rob Cairns, responded positively and proactively, drafting a comprehensive plan for performance which has now been accepted by the regulator.

ORR will closely monitor the delivery of the plan. Ninety percent of actions are scheduled to be completed by 2026, with many, including conducting exercises to improve the response to stranded trains and changing the region’s governance for greater focus on train punctuality and reliability, to be implemented before the end of the year. 

The plan includes nearly 60 individual actions and covers:

• Improving the timetable to be more resilient
• Improving the forecasting of extreme weather events
• Investing in asset reliability and performance
• Investing in people, including improving performance leadership, behaviours and accountability 
• Improved learning and insight from past and future disruption events
• Increased collaboration between industry bodies, including train operators

Feras Alshaker, Director, Performance and Planning at ORR, said: 

Notes to editor

Wales & Western investigation:

1. While train performance has largely stabilised across Great Britain following disruption caused by COVID-19, it continued to deteriorate in Network Rail’s Wales & Western region.
2. ORR launched an investigation, and subsequently determined that Network Rail had not done all it reasonably could have to improve performance in the region, in particular following the introduction of the Elizabeth Line and other infrastructure changes.
3. ORR concluded its investigation and issued a ‘final order’. This required Network Rail to create a robust, evidenced and timebound plan by 31 August 2024 to address performance in the region, or face a £3m fine.