Latest Rail News

07.06.16

Enforcement not needed to improve passenger experience – ORR head

Improving rail passenger experience should be based on engaging with train operating companies (TOCs), not enforcing regulation, the interim chief executive of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said yesterday.

In a transport select committee hearing on improving passenger experience, Joanna Whittington said that engagement was better than enforcement, adding: “I’m not saying that we wouldn’t seek to enforce, but the important thing is that we do it off a clear evidence base.”

Whittington’s remarks came despite many other witnesses at the hearing strongly criticising the performance of TOCs.

Alex Neill, the director of policy, campaigns and communication at Which?, whose recent super-complaint about passenger compensation required the ORR to publish a report into the issue, said railway companies were “down there with the energy companies and the car dealers” in terms of public trust.

Warnings about lack of industry transparency

Tim Bellenger, director of policy and investigation at London TravelWatch, warned that TOCs currently perceived the ORR and the Department for Transport as a “passenger proxy” and saw franchise agreements and engagement with the regulator as a substitute for meeting passenger needs.

“When I meet with train companies, quite often the response I’ve got is, ‘Well it’s not in our franchise, so we can’t do it,’” he said.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, agreed, saying: “I do worry that a cosy chat between Network Rail and a train company is then accepted as the basis of a passenger’s expectations. Those systems have to be opened up to greater scrutiny.”

He warned that rail passengers currently “do not trust the industry”, citing problems such as the failure of TOCs to supply information every time a train is over two minutes late, as they are required to do, and to provide proper information about changes to services.

Virgin West Coast recently stopped running peak services to Milton Keynes on Thursday and Friday evening without consultation.

The West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority also warned that more cities could be cut from the West Coast Main Line.

Smith said: “It should be made much clearer how those decisions are being made, who the winners are, who the losers are.”

He called for more TOCs to publish right time information, saying it was “a big cultural change which the industry needs to continue to embrace”.

Whittington did point out the ORR had implemented a number of changes, including producing more right time information from TOCs including CrossCountry, and fining Network Rail for breaching its licence, as reported exclusively by RTM last year.

She said the ORR had also helped introduce improvements to TOC websites, including front-page banners announcing disruptions, making compensation information accessible within two clicks, and requiring only 24-hour notice to be needed for passengers to request assistance.

Last week, the ORR published its first report into passenger experience, which found that complaints are decreasing overall, but problems such as difficulties using ticket machines remain an issue.

However, she said that the ORR would not usually take action on delays caused by upgrades, another key issue raised by the witnesses.

She said upgrades required “balancing the interests of passengers today with the interest of future passengers” and said that the ORR “would only take enforcement action if we felt that Network Rail wouldn’t otherwise do the right things”.

Calls for greater route devolution

She said that any changes would be introduced to individual routes on a longer-term basis.

“I think it’s really important to try to find those mechanisms that reinforce the relationship between the network provider and the regulator as a proxy for the customer in the short term,” she said, “and in the longer term, look at some of those things in relation to consumer challenge and stakeholder engagement at a route level.”

Stephen Joseph, director of Campaign for Better Transport, also told the committee he supported greater route devolution, following the recommendations of the Shaw report.

“Local devolved bodies can exercise more intelligent control over infrastructure works and plan better,” he said.

He said Transport for London, which is better able to plan for the needs of individual groups of its customers, such as part-time workers, was a good model. He also called for a concessions model to help incentivise TOCs.

Neil Middleton, chair of the Association of Public Transport Users, called for a “commuter pay-as-you-go” smart card system on commuter lines.

Chris Fribbins, head of the passenger group at Railfuture, said existing moves to make rolling stock more disability accessible needed to be matched with funding to upgrade priority stations.

He warned disabled passengers currently risked being “faced with a situation where they pull into a station and can’t get off”.

(Image c. AdamKR)

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an RTM columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

Marcia   07/06/2016 at 12:27

There is nothing more demoralising for a wheelchair user than to have to sit in the vestibule by a toilet they cannot access after paying the same fare as others. This is what happens if you are unfortunate and to have to travel on old trains.

Manchester Mike   07/06/2016 at 16:28

Engagement not enforcement. Sounds like weasel words. Most TOCs don't value 'commitments', only financial gains or penalties. Tories are so out of touch.

Jeds   07/06/2016 at 22:01

Passenger "experience" should not be cramped, claustrophobic interiors,and seats against window pillars, as on many franchised TOC trains. It is about more than merely "bums on seats". It seems that only the Open Access operators take these matters into account; and consequently attract more custom.

Jak Jaye   07/06/2016 at 22:42

What does this ORR woman know about train travel? probably wouldnt know one if she was hit by it! what a pathetic answer about regulating the TOCs

Add your comment

related

Rail industry Focus

View all News

Comment

The challenge of completing Crossrail

05/07/2019The challenge of completing Crossrail

With a new plan now in place to deliver Crossrail, Hedley Ayres, National Audit Office manager, major projects and programmes, takes a look at ho... more >
Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

04/07/2019Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

The move to decarbonise the rail network involves shifting to cleaner modes of traction by 2050. David Clarke, technical director at the Railway ... more >

'the sleepers' blog

On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

29/06/2020On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

Following an independent audit, Sulzer’s Nottingham Service Centre has been accepted as part of the rail industry supplier approval scheme (RISAS). The accreditation reinforces the high-quality standards that are maintained by Sulzer’s... more >
read more blog posts from 'the sleeper' >

Interviews

Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

24/06/2019Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

Andrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, has told the Today programme on Radio 4's BBC’s flagship news programme that he would not rule out his organisation issuing future r... more >
Advancing the rail industry with management degree apprenticeships

08/05/2019Advancing the rail industry with management degree apprenticeships

In answering the pressing questions of how current and future generations of managers can provide solutions to high-profile infrastructure projects across the UK, Pearson Business School, part of... more >