CP6 review and CP7 look forward
2023/24 marks the last year of Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (CP6), the sixth five-year funding period. It has been marked by successes as well as challenges.
CP6 recorded the first train accident with a passenger fatality since 2007 when a passenger train derailed at Carmont in 2020. The driver and the conductor were also killed. The derailment led to a sharpened focus on earthworks management through CP6. This will continue into CP7. The railway sector has recognised the challenge posed by climate change and extreme weather more generally. RSSB will work with its members through CP7 to help build effective and proportionate responses.
The Covid-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the railway in CP6. The trains kept running through the pandemic to ensure that essential workers and freight continued to move. But passenger numbers were reduced significantly. The year 2020/21 saw passenger journeys fall by 78%, compared to their pre-pandemic level. In 2023/24, passenger journeys are still below their pre-pandemic peak. Also, the service pattern has changed. The result is that revenues are down. This has brought into focus the question of how the railway is funded and how it provides value for money. We must ensure that our railway is safe but also that it is affordable. It also leaves the industry with a different challenge—how can we win back passengers? By putting passengers first, it is hoped that their number will continue to increase during CP7.
Freight safety has improved over CP6, with 2023/24 recording 45% fewer freight derailments on the running line compared to the end of CP5. That said, freight tonnes moved have not increased over CP6. Delivering growth in freight traffic over CP7 would lead to a reduction in carbon emissions. The modal shift to rail freight will reduce congestion and improve safety.
The Rail Reform triggered by the William-Shapps Plan for Rail (May 2021) will result in the most significant structural change in the UK rail industry in over 20 years. These reforms aim to create a more efficient, accountable, and passenger-focused railway system. It looks to do this by creating a ‘guiding mind’ in Great British Railways. These measures and policy intent were publicly consulted on in June 2022. The DfT published the draft Rail Reform Bill on 20 February 2024. It contains the primary legislative measures. Forming a key part of delivering rail reforms.
The draft bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. But it was not possible to get the parliamentary time needed to implement the Bill before the 4 July 2024 general election. In the absence of legislation, work has been underway to establish the most effective and appropriate roles for different organisations during the interim period.
Following the general election it is possible that the new government would propose different roles and activities in the period prior to establishment of Great British Railways. During this period of transition the Safety Working Group (SWG) is supporting rail reforms. The group is made up of members from the DfT, ORR, Network Rail, RSSB and others. It will continue to monitor and support safety through CP7.
The Rail Health and Safety Strategy details the rail industry’s plans to deliver a healthier, safer, and affordable railway over the next five years. A key focus area of CP7 will be the continued transition to a digital railway. Continuing to adopt technologies such as European Train Control System (ETCS). ETCS provides automatic train protection, reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error. But a full roll out of ETCS remains a long way off. Over CP7 RSSB will continue to support the rail industry through the refreshed train protection strategy and the Train Protection Strategy Group to consider and recommend what intermediate protections can be used.
Network Rail will continue to focus on activities and technology that will help the infrastructure better cope with climate change and extreme weather.
During CP7, there will be a focus on maintaining a healthy workforce as well as a safe one. Resources such as the RSSB health and wellbeing data hub have started to build the evidence base for health and wellbeing issues. By using metrics such as the Health and Wellbeing Index (HWI), the industry can make health-based investment decisions in the context of wider safety considerations and competing calls on budget.
