RIA responds to ORR’s report on Network Rail efficiency
The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, has responded to a new report out today from ORR looking at Network Rail’s efficiency.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “We note the rail regulators report today on Network Rail’s efficiency plans and we welcome Network Rail’s intensified efforts to smooth renewals workloads over Control Period 6 through engagement with the supply chain.
“In the Autumn, RIA conducted a survey of 28 companies involved in the renewals market and nearly 90% responded that renewals volumes are not coming forward at the rate expected. So, we will work closely with Network Rail to accelerate the work in Quarter 1 2020 in order that volumes in Year One of CP6 get delivered as planned by March, and to ensure the programme for 2020/21 and beyond is well-developed. This will support the longer-term aim to smooth out ‘boom and bust’ in rail funding, which bedevils the supply sector’s ability to deliver as optimally and deficiently as it could. Resolving these funding and delivery issues ultimately benefits both the rail customer and the taxpayer.”
