The Association of Train Operating Companies has said proposals to extend the role of the Office of Rail Regulation are ‘deeply flawed’.
ATOC said the plans would ‘hinder the Government’s attempts to limit future fare rises, reduce taxpayer subsidy and sustain investment in the railways’.
Responding to a consultation on how the sector could be regulated in the future, the ATOC says that proposals to shift the oversight of its members from the Department for Transport to the ORR ‘would not deliver for passengers or taxpayers’.
ATOC argues that the role of overseeing operators should remain with the body which acts as the franchising authority, currently the DfT.
Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC said:
“It is absolutely right that operators be held to account in providing passengers with the service that they expect and deserve. But the proposed extended role of the ORR will not help to deliver better services at a lower cost.”
surely it would make sense for the ORR (which i still think should have been named OffTrack) to be merged into the DfT. But since when has sense had anything to do with decision making