Independent inquiry into rail timetable disruption launched

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has formally launched its independent inquiry into the recent and widespread timetable disruption suffered on the railway and published its terms of reference.

The introduction of a new system-wide timetable on 20 May was intended to deliver benefits from major investment in the rail network but instead resulted in extensive disruption, particularly for Northern and GTR passengers.

The Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling asked ORR, as the independent rail regulator, to set up an inquiry headed by ORR Chair Professor Stephen Glaister CBE into the failed introduction of the new schedules.

ORR has now confirmed the inquiry will:

• Identify factors that contributed to the failure to produce and introduce a satisfactory operational timetable.
• Reach conclusions about managing risks created by major network changes.
• Make recommendations to the industry and government before any future major network changes.

The inquiry will focus on what actually took place when the timetable was introduced, compared to what should have happened. It will concentrate on the evidence of where there were differences, and the underlying causes.

It will examine the disruption experienced by passengers, especially on lines served by Northern and Govia Thameslink Railway.

In addition the inquiry will look at how Network Rail and the train operators worked together, before and after introduction of the timetable; Network Rail’s role in delivering network enhancements; the Department for Transport’s own role in planning enhancements and franchises; and the industry’s readiness in preparing for timetable changes.

The inquiry will have three phases: evidence-gathering, analysis, and the development of recommendations. An interim report will be published in September.

Professor Glaister said: "A considerable amount of time was spent planning these changes so it is disappointing that the industry could not make the new timetable work.

"ORR does not set or approve the railway timetable; we will therefore look at this issue independently and dispassionately.

"While I want the inquiry to proceed at pace it is important to be thorough and impartial.

"We will collect evidence from a range of organisations, including passenger representatives such as Transport Focus, and be supported by an expert panel of external advisers.

"This advisory panel will also challenge whether the ORR’s own role, as regulator of Network Rail and of the train operating companies, has been properly assessed by the inquiry."

The inquiry will publish its initial findings in September with a final report by the end of the year.