Foreword
Mark Phillips, Chief Executive, RSSB
Mark PhillipsChief Executive, RSSB
Britain's rail industry is at a crossroads, facing challenges that demand our attention and action. It is burdened with high maintenance and operational costs. Recent changes in passenger demand patterns appear permanent. Furthermore, ticket revenue adjusted for inflation and the Elizabeth Line opening is still well below the 2019 level overall. Passengers and freight need the network to be more reliable than it is currently. The industry has been slow in adopting and benefiting from new technologies. Industrial relations have become strained. There is a broad consensus on the need for reform and simplified industry structures.
Our comprehensive work plan for the upcoming year is a testament to our commitment to address these industry challenges. This plan has been carefully crafted after extensive consultation with our members. We are sincerely grateful for the valuable input they have provided.
We are pleased to share some of the key highlights of our plan. We will be expanding our health and wellbeing data hub, enabling more members to benchmark their performance, share good practice, and make improvements. We are exploring innovative methods to capture asset data to improve network reliability. Through advanced data capture from the signalling system, we can recommend timetable adjustments. This will minimise the risk of trains approaching red signals and improve performance. Our freight projects will contribute to meeting the freight growth target. Additionally, our social value tool will allow members to quantify the societal benefits of their investments. Setting an industry standard for train cab design will allow a consistent approach to introducing new trains.
In addition, we are introducing six strategic multipliers this year. Leveraging expertise across RSSB we will develop solutions to address some of the industry’s most challenging problems. From preparing for climate change to improving testing capabilities for new assets, we are determined to make a difference. We will also make the case for better data sharing and the benefits of applying artificial intelligence.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this business plan, please do not hesitate to email us. Together, we can address rail’s industry challenges and deliver safer, smarter rail.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this business plan, please email us via our Customer Service Portal.
