For the first time, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published a track access dashboard that aims to hold the industry accountable for the efficient use of the rail network.
The dashboard provides an overview of how passenger and freight train operators are using the available capacity across Britain’s rail network.
By making this data publicly available in one location, ORR aims to help the rail industry use the rail network more efficiently.
This resource will also support how ORR holds Network Rail and operators to account for meeting timetabling timescales.
The dashboard shows that for the timetable from December 2023, the industry provided plans to use 84 percent of the rail network capacity.
The regulator now expects Network Rail and train operators to use the dashboard to improve the use of the rail network. It aims to facilitate more efficient and effective service planning for introducing new services or releasing rights where they are no longer required.
“Efficient use of network capacity is important for an affordable railway and robust timetables are fundamental if passengers are going to be able to travel with confidence.
“We’ve worked with the rail industry to increase clarity and transparency in these important areas and in doing so, we’re supporting improvement in how rail network capacity is used and timetables are planned in the interest of passengers.”
The track access dashboard is live here.
