15 June 2023
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.”
1. The ORR draft determination can be found
here.
2. The
Periodic Reviews are one of the mechanisms by which ORR holds Network Rail to account and secures value for money for users and funders of the railway. PR23 will determine what Network Rail must deliver in Control period 7 (2024 – 2029) and the funding it requires to do this. Consultation on ORR’s assessment of Network Rail’s plans is open until 31 August 2023.
3.
About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 350 companies in membership in a sector that contributes £43 billion in economic growth and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 710,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK; for every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 is generated in the wider economy. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number).
www.riagb.org.uk