Network Rail faces big fines for its track record on train delays
NETWORK Rail has been threatened with a fine of at least £24m unless it makes more of an effort to cut cancellations and delays on long-distance routes.
The Office of Rail Regulation watchdog yesterday demanded that Network Rail speed up its plans to fix “unacceptable” levels of delays, which could put it in breach of its operating licence.
The ORR said the fines are necessary to push Network Rail into improving punctuality – something it currently “struggles to cope with”.
The watchdog will fine the rail operator £1.5m for every 0.1 percentage points – or 546 delayed trains – below 92 per cent punctuality from 2013-14.
Currently, 89.2 per cent of long-distance journeys arrive on time – putting Network Rail in the firing line for a £42m fine if it makes no improvement in the next two years.
But the operator aims to hit 90.4 per cent under its existing targets, meaning that without further efforts it will get a £24m penalty.
“We will not allow Network Rail to rest at ‘good’ performance when the public have paid the company to achieve excellence,” said ORR chief executive Richard Price.