RIA welcomes the publication of the ORR’s Draft Determination for PR23
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) welcomes today’s publication of the ORR’s draft determination for Network Rail’s plans for England & Wales and Scotland as part of the Periodic Review 2023. The determination identifies what Network Rail must deliver on over the next five-year period (Control Period 7) and the funding it requires to do this, which will be of interest to rail suppliers, who value certainty over Network Rail's plans. The ORR determination also provides rail suppliers some visibility on the Network Rail plans for Scotland which have not been published yet.
We are pleased to see ORR emphasis on renewing core assets. RIA will be examining the publication carefully to understand the implications to the industry and will formally respond to the publication in due course.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “The Railway Industry Association and our members welcome the publication of the ORR’s draft determination.
“The publication provides welcome detail on future plans and comes at an important point for rail suppliers at a time when freight and passenger numbers, and revenues, are heading in the right direction post pandemic. We look forward to reviewing the draft determination and providing our response.
“There is still wider uncertainty looming over rail policy, whether for example the lack of clarity over the timing of legislation to create Great British Railways, the fact an updated Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline has still not been published for three and a half years, or the absence of a clear plan for rolling stock in the second half of this decade.
“So whilst we welcome the publication of the ORR’s draft determination, we urge policy makers and influencers to note that rail business continue to need much more clarity over the future structure of rail, and the forward work pipeline, to help them plan ahead and deliver work as efficiently, and as cost-effectively for the taxpayer, as possible.”
