Rail Partners responds to ORR’s decision not to proceed with changes to Network Rail’s network licence

A spokesperson from Rail Partners said:

‘We welcome ORR’s decision not to proceed with modifying Network Rail’s timetable publication licence. Moving forward with such a proposal would have been detrimental to passenger and freight customers.

‘Since the pandemic, the rail industry has worked to ensure the continued movement of people and goods across the country. And with significant cost pressures, a backlog of prolonged engineering works and changing demand, it has been necessary to be flexible with timetabling.

‘But any proposal reducing the advance booking period from twelve weeks to eight weeks on a permanent basis would negatively impact passengers and hamper rail’s ability to compete with more carbon intensive modes including air – which benefits from longer booking horizons.’