Responding to the ORR consultation on the role of the regulator, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies said:
“Train companies recognise they need to be held to account but plans to expand the ORR’s role to include more oversight of operators must be rigorously tested.
“The regulator needs to continue focusing on doing a better job of holding Network Rail to account, particularly on performance and cost-efficiency, before taking on new responsibilities.
“Train companies already have a contractual relationship with the Department for Transport, and Ministers have expressed a desire to improve how that works by reducing day-to-day micromanagement by officials.
“Today’s proposals will not help passengers and taxpayers if they subject train companies to overlapping regulation or just transfer bureaucracy from DfT to ORR rather than cut the overall level of red tape.
“We will be looking for evidence of the benefits of these proposals and will be considering them carefully before responding more fully.”
